10.2.16 - Extracted Teeth

Extracted teeth used for the education of Dental Health Care Workers (DHCW) should be considered infective and classified as clinical specimens because they contain blood. All persons who collect, transport, or manipulate extracted teeth should handle them with the same precautions as for biopsy specimens.

1. Ask your local dentists or oral surgeons if you can have their extracted teeth.
2. Standard precautions should be adhered to whenever handling extracted teeth.
3. Since pre-clinical educational exercises simulate clinical experiences, students should adhere to standard precautions in both settings.
4. All persons who handle extracted teeth in educational settings should receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. 

Before extracted teeth are manipulated, the teeth first should be cleaned of adherent material by scrubbing with detergent and water or by using an ultrasonic cleaner.

If possible, separate the collected teeth into two separate containers.

• One for teeth without any silver (amalgam) fillings.
• One for teeth with silver (amalgam) fillings.
• If you are unsure if they contain silver or are unable to separate, place them all into one container. 

1. Cover teeth with water to keep them moist.
2. Acceptable containers are plastic or glass wide-mouth jars with a lid that will close securely (mayonnaise jar).
3. Do not use plastic water bottles.
4. Print your full name and graduation year on your container; for example, Joe Student 2027.
5. You may now begin to turn your teeth into Central Sterilization on the first floor. 
6. Sterilization times may vary.
7. Teeth without amalgam will be heat sterilized using a liquid autoclave cycle for 40 minutes. 
8. Teeth with amalgam will be immersed in a 10% formalin solution for 14 days.