CODA Board Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Master Dental Accreditation Success!

Sterilization is the process that completely destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and other pathogens. This is achieved through various methods, such as autoclaving, chemical sterilants, or radiation. The goal of sterilization is to ensure that instruments, surfaces, and materials are free from any viable microorganisms, making them safe for use in medical and dental settings.

Disinfection involves reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms to a level that is not harmful, but it does not eliminate all forms of life, especially bacterial spores. Decontamination refers to the process of cleansing an instrument or surface to remove or reduce pathogens, but it still does not ensure complete destruction. Purification typically refers to the removal of impurities or contaminants from a substance, rather than targeting all forms of life.

Therefore, the process that encompasses complete destruction of all life forms is sterilization.