Question

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is ___________.

1) Autoclave
2) Dry heat sterilizer
3) Chemical vapor sterilizer
4) Ethylene oxide sterilizer

Answer 1

The autoclave is the type of sterilization in a dental office that requires the highest temperature, typically operating at 121 °C or 132 °C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is the autoclave. Autoclaves utilize moist-heat sterilization to achieve temperatures above the boiling point of water, penetrating cells better than dry heat and effectively killing a wide range of microorganisms, including resistant endospores. Standard operating temperatures for autoclaves typically reach 121 °C or 132 °C, at pressures of 15 to 20 psi. In comparison, dry heat sterilizers operate at temperatures up to 170 °C but require at least 2 hours for sterilization, and other methods like chemical vapor sterilizers and ethylene oxide sterilizers do not utilize high temperatures for sterilization.