Dental Water Lines – Part 1

This column and the one to follow discuss the issues involved with the water used in the dental office. Water that is used in the dental office is usually the same town water that people drink, use to cook and bathe in. However, in the dental office, the water sits around in plastic tubing and “things” can grow in plastic tubing. Wouldn’t you like to know that the water being squirt into your mouth is clean?
I am bringing this up because it is an often overlooked part of the dental office and is important to consider. The information was obtained from the ADA website.
What are biofilms?
Biofilms are microscopic communities that consist primarily of naturally occurring water bacteria and fungi. They form thin layers on virtually all surfaces, including dental water delivery systems. These common microbes or germs accumulate inside things like showerheads, faucets and fountains, and in the thin tubes used to deliver water in dental treatment.
Will biofilms harm me?
Scientific reports have not linked illness to water passing through dental waterlines. In our environment, we are exposed to countless germs or bacteria. Yet, exposure to these common microbes does not mean that an individual will get an infection or a disease. However, when a person’s immune system is compromised because of age, smoking, heavy drinking, being a transplant or cancer patient or because of HIV infection, he or she may have more difficulty fighting off the invading germs. This is why the ADA encourages patients who may have weakened immune systems to inform their dentist at the beginning of any treatment. That way, the patient and dentist together can make the right treatment decisions.
What has been done to prevent me from being exposed to someone else’s saliva during dental treatment?
The ADA recommends that dentists follow the infection control guidelines of the ADA and CDC. These recommendations include the sterilization of dental instruments and the flushing of waterlines between patients. Additionally, the recommendations call for the installation and maintenance of anti-retraction devices, where appropriate. All these measures should help prevent exposure to someone else’s saliva.
What is the ADA goal for dental unit water?
In 1995, the ADA set a goal for water quality. It called for equipment to be available by the year 2000 that can provide unfiltered water with no more than 200 CFU/ml (colony-forming units per milliliter). That’s the same standard as for kidney dialysis machines, and it’s a goal that manufacturers are working toward. The Food and Drug Administration has recently cleared a number of new products to improve water quality and time is needed to evaluate their effectiveness. The Association encourages manufacturers of new products to submit those products to the ADA Seal of Acceptance program for evaluation.
I will continue next week with some more information.