Dental Unit Waterlines

Author(s):  
Glenn Canares ◽  
Devon Allison
2003 ◽  
Vol os10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline L Pankhurst

Biofilms form rapidly on dental unit waterlines. The majority of the organisms in the biofilm are harmless environmental species, but some dental units may harbour opportunistic respiratory pathogens. This paper describes a risk assessment approach to analysing the hazard from biofilm organisms contaminating dental unit waterlines on the respiratory health of both the dental team and patients. The health risk from the respiratory pathogens Legionella spp, Mycobacterium spp and Pseudomonads was found to be low. Nevertheless, in order to satisfy water regulations and comply with health and safety legislation dentists should institute infection-control measures to maintain the dental unit water at the standard of less than 200 colony-forming units per ml of aerobic bacteria.


2003 ◽  
Vol 134 (7) ◽  
pp. 853-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
NUALA B. PORTEOUS ◽  
SPENCER W. REDDING ◽  
ELIZABETH H. THOMPSON ◽  
AMY M. GROOTERS ◽  
SYBREN DE HOOG ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Barbot ◽  
Amélie Robert ◽  
Marie-Hélène Rodier ◽  
Christine Imbert

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soad A. Abdallah ◽  
Ahmed I. Khalil

Microorganisms that have been identified in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are of concern because they can cause infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to assess the incidence of microbial contamination in DUWLs before and after intervention to reduce contamination, and to investigate the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Water samples were collected aseptically from the waterlines. The high-speed hand-piece and dental chair units were served by one distillation apparatus, which was fed by the potable tap water of four dental clinics. Different interventions were used: chlorination, flushing before clinics and between patients, draining at the end of the day, and freshly distilled water on a daily basis. There was a significant difference between the level of contamination in the high-speed hand-piece (1.5–2.7 log CFU/ml) and dental chair unit water (2.0–3.5 log CFU/ml). Coliforms (0.9%) E. coli (0.9%) and Pseudomonas (1.8%) were detected during 2008. This study indicates the need to monitor water quality regularly and prevent stagnation in DUWLs to reduce the number of viable bacteria to <100 CFU/ml. We recommend flushing the DUWL for 2 min before the first patient and for 10–20 s between patients, flushing the dental unit at the end of the day and draining it overnight to reduce the development of biofilms, and chlorination of the DUWLs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue‐Yue Ji ◽  
Chun‐Nan Fei ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
He Liu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Damien Offner ◽  
Gabriel Fernandez De Grado ◽  
Marion Strub ◽  
Laure Belotti ◽  
Stéphanie Deboscker ◽  
...  

Mobile dental delivery systems (MDDSs) are receiving growing interest for reaching isolated patients, as well as in dental care for fragile and hospitalized patients, with the advantage of being able to be used from room to room or during general anesthesia (GA) in an operating room. Therefore, ensuring the care safety is crucial. The aim of this study was to elaborate and assess an MDDS maintenance protocol, containing the management of dental unit waterlines and adapted to specific conditions such as dental care under GA. A step-by-step protocol was established and implemented for an MDDS used during dental care under GA in children. Samples of the output water were collected at J0, J+1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, and cultured to observe the microbiological quality of the water. All the results (heterotrophic plate count at 22 °C, at 37 °C, and specific pathogenic germs sought) showed an absence of contamination. The protocol presented was effective over time and allowed ensuring the safety of care to be ensured when using MDDS, even during dental procedures under GA. As a result, it could be implemented by any dental care delivery structure wanting to reinforce the safety of its practice.


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