Background: Root canal instrumentation results in accumulation of debris on the flutes of the file, these instruments have to be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized effectively. The present study was conducted to evaluate utility of pre-sterilization cleaning of endodontic instruments before placement in glass bead sterilizer. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 40 K files used in patients and were divided into 4 groups. In group I, we used contaminated files without any cleaning protocol, in group II, we used files which underwent manual brushing + 3% H2O2 and in group III files underwent manual brushing + ultrasonic bath for 5 min and in group IV, non contaminated files were used.  Debris on files were examined using Linsuwanont et al criteria. Results: It was found that score 4 was seen in 2 in group II, score 3 was used in 4 in group II, score 2 was seen in 4 in group II and 2 in group III. Score 1 was seen in 3 in group I and 8 in group III. Score 0 was seen in 7 in group I. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Among various methods of sterilization of files, manual brushing + ultrasonic bath is better than manual brushing + 3% H2O2 alone. 
Key words: Instruments, Ultrasonic bath, Hydrogen peroxide.

Received: 16 March, 2019                                         Revised:  26 April 2019                             Accepted: 28 April 2019
                                
Corresponding author: Dr. Amola Tandon, MDS (Conservative dentistry and Endodontist), Consultant Endodontist, Ludhiana (Punjab); India
               
This article may be cited as: Tandon A, Goel M, Singh J. An in vitro study of evaluation of Pre-sterilization cleaning of endodontic instruments before placement in glass bead sterilizer. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2019; 5(3): 85-87.