Method for sanitizing dental equipment using microwaves

Abstract

A method by which dental equipment, such as dental scalers, can be sanitized using a detergent or treating composition containing a surfactant and a solvent such as water is disclosed. The method involves taking the used dental equipment and contacting it with the treating composition, and subjecting both the equipment and composition to microwaves. The composition foams during microwaving and/or immerses the equipment such that microwave arcing is avoided, and such that the dental equipment is sanitized.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for sanitizing dental equipment containing microbes, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting said dental equipment with an effective amount of a treating composition which generates heat under microwave radiation and contains a surfactant, a solvent and preferably a bleaching agent;    (b) subjecting said dental equipment and said treating composition to microwaves for an effective amount of time such that a sanitizing amount of said microbes are removed from said dental equipment    
     
     
         2 . A dental equipment sanitizing product comprising a treating composition containing a surfactant, a solvent and preferably a bleaching agent which generates heat under microwave radiation, said product further including instructions for using of said treating composition comprising the steps of 
 (a) contacting said dental equipment with said treating composition, and    (b) subjecting said dental equipment and treating composition to microwaves for an effective amount of time, preferably from 30 seconds to 5 minutes such that at least 50%, preferably at least 90% of microbes are removed from said dental equipment.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 2  wherein said bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) diacyl peroxide;  
 b) a source of hydrogen peroxide and bleach activator;  
 c) a source of hydrogen peroxide;  
 c) a chlorine bleach; and  
 d) mixtures thereof  
 
     
     
         4 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 3  wherein said bleaching agent is a diacyl peroxide selected from the group consisting dibenzoyl peroxide, dianisoyl peroxide, benzoyl gluaryl peroxide, benzoyl succinyl peroxide, di-(2-methybenzoyl) peroxide, diphthaloyl peroxide, dinaphthoyl peroxide, substituted dinaphthoyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 4  wherein said treating composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of clay, polycarboxylate thickeners, baking soda, carbonates, phosphates, hydrobenzoic acid, dicarboxylic acid, siloxanes, perfumes, bleach catalysts, and mixtures thereof  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 5  wherein said solvent in said treating composition is water.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 6  wherein said effective amount of time is from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, preferably from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 7  wherein said sanitizing amount comprises removing at least 50%, preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 99.9% of the microbes originally on said equipment.  
     
     
         9 . A method according any of claims  1 - 8  wherein said treating composition is a gel or liquid detergent composition comprising by weight 
 (a) from 0.1% to 60% of said bleaching agent which is selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) diacyl peroxide having the general formula:  
 RC(O)OO(O)CR1  
 
 wherein R and R 1  can be the same or different, 
 ii) a source of hydrogen peroxide;  
 iii) a source of hydrogen peroxide and a bleach activator;  
 iv) a chlorine bleach; and  
 v) mixtures thereof;  
 
 (b) from 0% to 95% of said solvent;  
 (c) from 0.01% to 50% of said surfactant; and  
 (d) from 0% to 7% of a thickener.  
 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any of claims  1 - 9  wherein said microwaves have an electromagnetic radiation wavelength of from about 1 cm to about 1 m.