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December 12, 2025Open Access

Efficacy of UVC Radiation in Reducing Bacterial Load on Dental Office Surfaces

Key Points

This study evaluates the efficacy of UVC radiation in reducing bacterial load on dental office surfaces.
Three high-touch surfaces were tested: a wooden work table, a stainless-steel consumables table, and a dental unit table.
Surfaces were sampled before and after 5 min and 10 min of UVC exposure at 90 µW/cm2.
Colony-forming units were counted using Mueller–Hinton agar.
UVC achieved over 99% reduction in bacterial load after 5 minutes.
Complete elimination of bacteria was noted after 10 minutes of exposure.
Material properties and surface characteristics affected the decontamination efficacy.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Environmental contamination of dental surfaces is a major vector for cross-infection. Ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation provides rapid, chemical-free decontamination; however, depending on wavelength and ventilation conditions, ozone generation may occur. This study evaluated the germicidal efficacy of UVC on three high-touch surfaces: a wooden work table, a stainless-steel consumables table, and a dental unit table. Methods: Surfaces were sampled at baseline, after 5 min (27 mJ/cm2), and after 10 min (54 mJ/cm2) of UVC exposure at 90 µW/cm2. Colony-forming units (CFU/cm2) were enumerated using Mueller–Hinton agar. Results: UVC achieved >99% reduction after 5 min and complete elimination after 10 min. Material properties (porosity, reflectivity, and grooves), along with quantified parameters like surface roughness (Ra) and contact angle, influenced minor differences in decontamination. Conclusions: Used with appropriate safety protocols, short-duration UVC irradiation effectively decontaminates dental surfaces and can complement chemical disinfection. Future studies must incorporate artificially soiled surfaces, biofilms, and emerging far-UVC/UV-LED technologies.

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