RESUMO
This study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of the use of the Pasteur oven as sterilization equipment in dental offices through biological monitoring. For this assessment were taken into account how adequately the material is loaded into the equipment; time/temperature used; and preventive maintenance of the oven. The data were collected in 101 dental offices in the Central District of GoiPnia, in the State of Goiás, through observation, interviews and performance of tests with biological indicator. The results showed a lack of standardization of some of the procedures recommended by the Ministry of Health for sterilization of items in the oven, and positive results of the biological test in 46 (45.5%) of the tested cycles. The intervening factors with most significance regarding sterilization problems were: absence of an accessory thermometer to control the cycles' temperature and non-observance of the time/temperature relations recommended for the sterilization cycle through dry heat.