Exploring the Efficacy of Hypochlorous Acid as a Cost Effective Environmental Decontaminant in Dentistry: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Dental procedures result in the production of bioaerosols that contaminate various environmental surfaces in the dental clinic. In order to maintain a safe environment in the dental clinic and prevent cross contamination, it is important to find alternative disinfection methods and agents to ensure effective decontamination. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a cost-effective antimicrobial agent that can be used for infection control. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide evidence from the literature supporting the routine use of HOCl as a biodecontamination and disinfection agent in dental clinics. An electronic search was completed on the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley, and Science Direct. The studies were included based on their titles, abstract, and relevance to HOCl and the ability to render pathogens deactivated after exposure to HOCl vapor. The search focused on studies in the past 5 years. The search resulted in a total of 15 articles being selected after exclusions based on duplications, title, and abstract assessment. The articles included studies that used various HOCl concentrations and expanded on the inactivation of several pathogens. The reviewed studies highlight HOCl's broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy, with significant reductions in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and Clostridioides difficile, reinforcing its role in optimizing disinfection protocols across healthcare and occupational settings. The articles selected provided clear evidence that under correct and established parameters, HOCl can provide a cheaper safer alternative to most disinfectants. Further studies are recommended on applications methods in clinical settings.