Sterilization Instructions For Use

These instructions cover reusable ArtCraft Dental hand instruments made of stainless steel, including titanium-coated and hinged instruments. ArtCraft instruments are supplied non-sterile: clean and sterilize every instrument before its first use and after every use. Intended for licensed dental professionals, and for staff trained in handling, cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments. These instructions follow AAMI ST79 and CDC guidelines for steam sterilization of dental instruments.

Follow these instructions together with your sterilizer, washer and detergent manufacturers' instructions, CDC guidelines for infection control in dental settings, and your practice's own procedures. The person processing the instruments is responsible for making sure processing achieves the intended result.

Warnings

• Clean and sterilize before first use. Instruments ship non-sterile.

• Wear protective gloves, eyewear and a gown when handling used instruments.

• Do not use bleach, chlorine or chloride solutions, saline, iodine (iodophors), phenols, strong acids or alkalis (stay between pH 4 and pH 9; neutral pH is best), or hydrogen peroxide.

• Do not use steel wool, wire brushes or abrasive cleaners.

• Do not cold-sterilize or soak stainless steel instruments in chemical sterilants for long periods; it can cause corrosion. (Exception: the PDL Gun aligner tube, below.)

• Handle with care during transport, cleaning and storage, especially blades, fine points and serrated tips. Do not let blood or debris dry on instruments.

• Do not mix dissimilar metals (for example, carbon steel or aluminum items) with stainless instruments during cleaning or sterilization.

• Do not reprocess single-use items (see Product-specific notes).

• Use distilled or deionized water for rinsing and in your sterilizer. Tap water minerals and chlorides cause spotting and rust.

Step 1: At the point of use

1. Wipe off visible blood and debris right after the procedure with a damp gauze or soft, non-metal brush.

2. Open hinged instruments.

3. Keep instruments moist until cleaning (an enzymatic pre-soak or foam spray), and begin cleaning within 2 hours. Dried debris is much harder to remove.

4. Transport used instruments to the cleaning area in a closed, puncture-resistant container or cassette.

Step 2: Cleaning

Automated cleaning (ultrasonic or washer-disinfector) is preferred. Use manual cleaning when automated cleaning is not available or debris remains. Always use a freshly prepared, neutral-pH or enzymatic detergent made for medical instruments, at the concentration, time and temperature its manufacturer specifies.

Option A: Ultrasonic cleaner (recommended)

1. Open hinged instruments and place instruments in a basket or cassette so they do not touch each other.

2. Fully submerge them in the cleaning solution.

3. Run the cycle for the time the detergent and ultrasonic manufacturer specify (typically at least 10 minutes).

4. Do not overload the unit, and change the solution at least daily or when visibly soiled.

5. After the cycle, check and retighten any screws or joints that may have loosened.

Option B: Washer-disinfector

1. Load instruments open, in a cassette or tray, without touching.

2. Run a validated instrument cycle with thermal disinfection, following the washer manufacturer's instructions.

Option C: Manual cleaning

1. Soak instruments open in enzymatic detergent for the time its manufacturer specifies (typically at least 10 minutes).

2. While submerged, scrub every surface with a soft nylon brush. Pay close attention to hinges, box joints, serrations and tips.

3. Work hinged instruments open and closed during cleaning.

Rinse: Rinse thoroughly under running water, ideally distilled or deionized, for at least 1 minute, including hinges and serrations.

Dry: Dry completely with a lint-free cloth or filtered compressed air. Instruments that are not completely dry can spot or rust in the sterilizer.

Step 3: Inspection and maintenance

Inspect every instrument after cleaning, under good light (magnification helps).

• Clean: no visible debris, especially in serrations, hinges and box joints. Re-clean anything that is not.

• Tips and edges: sharp, straight and undamaged. No bends, chips or cracks.

• Hinged instruments: move smoothly, jaws line up, and ratchets or locks hold.

• Surface: no rust, pitting or cracks. Light surface stains can be removed with a stain remover made for surgical instruments; then re-clean.

• Coatings: titanium coating intact, with no chips, flaking or bubbling.

Lubricate hinged instruments after cleaning and before sterilization with a water-soluble, steam-permeable instrument lubricant ("instrument milk" or lubricant spray). Do not use mineral oil, paraffin oil or other oil-based lubricants; they can block steam from reaching the instrument surface.

If a sharp instrument is re-sharpened, clean and sterilize it again afterward. Remove any instrument that fails inspection from use.

Step 4: Packaging

• Package instruments in FDA-cleared sterilization pouches, wraps or cassettes made for steam sterilization.

• Place hinged instruments in the open or unlocked position.

• Protect fine tips with tip guards, or position them so they cannot be crushed.

• Include a chemical indicator in or on each package, and do not overfill pouches.

Step 5: Steam sterilization

Use a steam sterilizer (autoclave) cleared by FDA and maintained to its manufacturer's instructions. Use one of these cycles for wrapped or pouched instruments:

• If your sterilizer manufacturer specifies a longer exposure or dry time, follow theirs. Any other time and temperature combination must be validated by the user. Do not exceed 280°F / 137°C.

• Let packages dry completely before removing them; wet packs are not considered sterile.

• Use chemical indicators with every load and biological monitoring (spore testing) at least weekly, per CDC guidelines.

• Not recommended for ArtCraft stainless instruments: chemical (cold) sterilization, unsaturated chemical vapor, dry heat, and routine immediate-use ("flash") sterilization.

Step 6: Storage and end of life

Storage: Keep sterilized instruments in their sealed packages in a clean, dry, dust-free area, separate from unsterilized items. Before use, check that the package is intact, dry and that the indicator has changed. If a package is torn, wet or opened, re-clean and re-sterilize the instruments.

End of life: ArtCraft instruments are designed for repeated processing. There is no fixed number of cycles; life depends on use and care. Replace an instrument when it fails the inspection in Step 3.

Product-specific notes

Hinged instruments (forceps such as TraXion, RootGripp, Cowhorn and Ash; CastroV needle holders; Edge Ultra scissors; Stitch Buddy, V-Plier; Super Matrix Placer and Remover; Max Crown Spreader)

• Clean, lubricate, package, sterilize and store in the open or unlocked position. Sterilizing with the ratchet or lock closed can crack the box joint or tips.

• Work the joint during cleaning, and check jaw alignment and ratchets at inspection.

Fine and serrated working ends (Xpanders, L-Vators, Golden Retriever Spears, Root Tip Picks, Cryer, REACH77, Serr8, CompPlus)

• Brush serrations carefully while submerged; this is where debris collects.

• Protect tips during cleaning and sterilization so they don't bend or chip.

Titanium-coated instruments (Serr8 Titanium curettes, Molt-Titanium periosteal, CompPlus composite instruments)

• Use only soft brushes and non-abrasive, neutral-pH cleaners.

• Discard the instrument if the coating is chipped, flaking or bubbling.

PDL Gun

• Remove the rubber aligner tube before processing.

• Metal parts: clean and steam sterilize as above.

• Rubber aligner tube: do not steam sterilize. Use cold sterilization only: an FDA-cleared liquid chemical sterilant or high-level disinfectant, used exactly as its label directs, then rinse as that label directs. Replace the tube when it shows cracks, stiffness or wear (aligner tube refills are available).

Burs and diamonds (558 and 702 surgical burs, Metal Buster, The Flame, Zirconia Buster)

• Supplied non-sterile: clean and steam sterilize before use.

• Reusable for a limited number of uses. Clean and steam sterilize between every patient, and replace burs as soon as cutting slows; worn burs cut poorly and create more heat.

• Use a bur block or holder so burs do not touch during cleaning and sterilization.

• Discard any bur that is bent, broken, worn, corroded or missing diamond grit.

Single-use items

• Crown Gripps foam protectors are single use and non-sterile. Discard after use. Do not clean or reprocess.

• The Microtray is single use. Discard after use. Do not clean or reprocess.

Manufacturer

Manufactured for ArtCraft Dental, Inc. · Austin, TX 78757 · 1-877-340-1776 · artcraftdental.com

Questions about cleaning or sterilizing ArtCraft instruments: hello@artcraftdental.com

IFU-001 · Revision 1.0 · November 2026

ArtCraft Dental, TempOff® and all product names are trademarks of ArtCraft Dental, Inc., unless otherwise noted. © 2026 ArtCraft Dental, Inc. All rights reserved. IFU-001 Rev 1.0 (11/2026)