Autoclaves

Autoclaves are medical devices that sterilize using steam at high pressure and temperature.

In dental clinics, autoclaves are used for the treatment of medical waste, to eliminate existing pathogenic microorganisms.

Dental autoclaves are thick-walled metal pressure vessels with a hermetic closure that allows working at high pressure for industrial reaction, cooking or steam sterilization.

There are several types of autoclaves depending on the instruments to be sterilized. The most common are class B, N and S autoclaves.

According to European Standard 13060, dental clinics can only use class B autoclaves, which are those that allow the sterilization of porous instruments with blind holes (turbines, contra-angles) and textile loads.

The class B autoclave removes the air from inside the chamber using a vacuum pump, thereby creating a negative pressure forcing the steam to enter.