Hypochlorous acid is a natural, non-toxic, high-level disinfectant that kills bacteria, viruses, and molds. Current CDC recommendations require the utilization of low to intermediate level disinfectants, with the primary intermediate level disinfectant utilized being quaternary ammonias. Generally, high-level disinfectants are not used due to their toxicities. However, quaternary ammonias are hard on equipment and have a list of toxicities requiring personal protective equipment when disinfecting. While hypochlorous acid is a high-level disinfectant—it is an endogenous substance produced by white blood cells to kill invading pathogens and is nontoxic to humans, animals, and equipment. Being a powerful oxidant, hypochlorous is also utilized in wound care. This presentation will review current disinfectants and oral medicaments and how hypochlorous acid can be applied in the dental practice.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this session attendees will be able to:
Define the purpose and requirements of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for environmental disinfection in a dental setting.
Identify the common disinfectants and oral antimicrobials utilized in dental practice setting.
List the requirements from material safety data sheets (MSDS) for personal protective equipment (PPE) for utilizing disinfectants and potential hazards from the utilization of disinfectants.
Analyze the principles and mechanisms of action of disinfectants and oral antimicrobials.
Evaluate the mechanism of action, dwell time, and pathogens killed by hypochlorous acid.
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