What must be done if a dry heat oven is opened during a sterilization cycle?

If a dry heat oven is opened during a sterilization cycle, the appropriate action is to close the oven door, allow it to reheat to the proper sterilization temperature, and then restart the cycle. This is because opening the oven during sterilization can cause a drop in temperature, which may compromise the effectiveness of the sterilization process.

Once the door is opened, the internal environment of the oven changes, and for effective sterilization, it is crucial to ensure that the entire load reaches the necessary temperature for the required duration. By closing the oven and allowing it to return to the appropriate temperature before restarting the timer for the cycle, one ensures that all instruments are adequately sterilized, minimizing the risk of infection due to inadequate sterilization.

Maintaining the integrity of the sterilization conditions is integral to infection control in dental practices, as improperly sterilized instruments can lead to cross-contamination and patient safety issues.