Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered an acceptable surface disinfectant in dental practice?

1. Phenol

2. Chlorine

3. Iodine

4. Alcohol

The correct answer is: Alcohol

In the context of dental practice, surface disinfectants play a crucial role in infection control. While all the listed substances have disinfectant properties, alcohol is not deemed suitable for all surface disinfection needs in a dental setting. Alcohol, particularly in its common forms such as isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, is effective for certain applications, especially in hand sanitizers and skin antisepsis. However, its effectiveness can be limited on non-porous surfaces. Alcohol tends to evaporate quickly, making it less effective for maintaining a prolonged contact time required to achieve the desired level of disinfection on surfaces contaminated with blood or saliva, where more robust disinfectants would be more appropriate. In contrast, phenols, chlorine, and iodine are accepted surface disinfectants in dental settings due to their practicality and efficacy. Phenol compounds are known for their germicidal properties, chlorine-based disinfectants (like sodium hypochlorite) are broadly effective for surfaces, and iodine can serve as an antiseptic that is widely used in various forms. Their residual effectiveness and ability to handle the high bioload typically found in dental environments render these substances more suitable compared to alcohol, particularly for disinfecting surfaces within a practice.