What type of procedure is used to destroy all microbes, including spores?

The procedure that is used to destroy all microbes, including spores, is sterilization. This process is crucial in dental settings and other healthcare environments where the highest level of cleanliness and safety is required. Sterilization eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores, which are particularly resistant and can survive harsh environments.

Sterilization methods can include autoclaving (using steam under pressure), dry heat, ethylene oxide gas, or other advanced techniques that are designed to achieve complete microbial eradication. This level of control is essential before any invasive procedure, as it minimizes the risk of infections and ensures patient safety.

On the other hand, disinfection and sanitization serve different purposes. Disinfection reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms but may not eliminate all spores, while sanitization lowers the microbial count to safe levels without necessarily achieving complete sterility. Personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols are important for infection control but do not pertain directly to the procedure of destroying microbes. Thus, the distinctive characteristic of sterilization is its ability to ensure that all microbes, including the most resilient spores, are completely destroyed.