Do doctors and dentists use sterile?

Thermometers, otoscopes(the thing they look in your ear with) and the suction device ( that suction thing the dentist uses) all have disposable, one patient use covers. In fact, the themometer and otoscope are not usuable without the disposable tip. The opthalmoscope isn't touching you, and doesn't need to be sterile. As far as the suction device goes- your mouth is far from sterile to begin with- so having the sterile tip is rather pointless, but it's rather unappealing to think it's just been wiped with a disinfectant since being in the mouth of the last person. Stethescopes don't require sterility, as there would be no point. They aren't used inside any part of anybody, and again are coming into contact with pretty unsterile spots to start with. No matter how sterile it might start out, the moment the doctor touched you, it would be contaminated with whatever was on your skin at that spot. Next time you are in the doctors office, just look for a box on the wall filled with little tips in tubes- those are the covers for the otoscope. The covers for the thermometer will be right next to it as well, as a rule. The tip for the suction device to go in your mouth is generally put on after the previous patient leaves, and before you arrive- but you can ask the technician if you like. The rest, you just don't have to be concerned about. You won't catch anything from either a stethescope or an opthalmoscope.