Abstract
As dentists, we must disinfect and clean all equipment’s and countertops between patients with a recommended hospital-grade bactericidal product. Non visible blood and saliva does not mean it is absent on environmental surfaces. Blood and saliva are present throughout dental treatment. If a patient becomes ill as a result of an exposure to a pathogen or a bacterium that is later found in our dental office surfaces, the employer and/or dentist is at risk of being responsible for the patient's illness and associated compensatory damages. Understanding and recognizing the risk of disease will drastically reduce patient illness, practice liability and employee illnesses. Dentists cannot pretend that this is only a theoretical problem. Therefore the dental community needs to stay updated of the rapidly evolving standard of care and do its best to comply with the standard of care in daily practice.
 Key Words: Sterilization, Chemical Disinfection, Fumigation, Pathogens.
Highlights
Sterilization is the killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores which are highly resistant
If a patient becomes ill as a result of an exposure to a pathogen or a bacterium that is later found in our dental office surfaces, the employer and/or dentist is at risk of being responsible for the patient's illness and associated compensatory damages
Disinfection is the killing of many, but not all microorganisms. It is a process of reduction of number of contaminating organisms to a level that it prevents infection that is, all pathogens must be killed
Summary
Sterilization is the killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores which are highly resistant. Hand hygiene is key to minimize this type of transfer, disinfecting and cleaning of environmental surfaces protects against health-care–associated infections. Mycobacterium has the highest intrinsic levels of resistance among the vegetative bacteria, viruses, and fungi; germicides with a tuberculocidal claim on disinfectant labels are considered capable of inactivating a broad spectrum of pathogens, including such less-resistant organisms as blood borne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV).. Glutaraldehyde – is a colorless liquid and has the sharp, pungent odor typical of all aldehydes, with an odor threshold of 0.04 parts per million (ppm) It is capable of sterilizing equipment, though to effect sterilization often requires many hours of exposure. Two percent solutions of glutaraldehyde exhibit very good activity against vegetative bacteria, spores and viruses It is ten times more effective than formaldehyde and less toxic.
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