Get rid of all bad bits in Dent sci-fi novel (9)

I believe the answer is:

disinfect

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'get rid of all bad bits' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'dent sci-fi novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters (letters in a new or novel order).
'dent'+'sci'+'fi'='dentscifi'
'dentscifi' is an anagram of 'DISINFECT'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for disinfect that I've seen before include "Make pure" , "get rid of bugs" , "Sanitise" , "Clean so as to destroy bacteria" , "Sterilise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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