What process kills all bacteria and spores?

Sterilization is the process that effectively kills all bacteria, including spores. This is crucial in settings like dental practices, where the presence of any microbial life can pose significant health risks to patients. Sterilization typically involves the use of high heat, steam (autoclaving), or other chemical agents that can achieve the necessary temperature and pressure to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including the highly resistant bacterial spores.

In contrast, disinfection is meant to reduce the number of viable pathogens but does not guarantee the elimination of all microbes, particularly spores. Sanitization focuses on lowering the number of microorganisms to safe levels, while cleaning involves the removal of visible dirt and organic matter, which does not necessarily kill or eliminate bacteria. Therefore, for procedures that require the utmost assurance of safety, such as surgical instruments used in dentistry, sterilization is the required method.