What is the primary purpose of an autoclave?

• A. To dry out instruments
• B. To sterilize using heat
• C. To sterilize using chemicals
• D. To destroy all microbes with heat and pressure

Answer: (D)

An autoclave sterilizes instruments using moist heat under high pressure. The combination of steam and pressure raises the effective temperature and allows heat to penetrate wrapped packs, reliably destroying all microbial life, including spores. This makes it a primary method for achieving true sterilization, not just drying or chemical treatment. Dry heat takes longer and is less common for routine esthetic instruments, and chemical sterilization uses different processes. So the main purpose is to sterilize using heat and pressure to ensure complete destruction of microbes.