DENTAL BIOFILM

We can test your water for Bacteria, Biofilm and Fungi. Testing and service only available in restricted areas.

Dental Unit Water Quality Dental unit waterlines (i.e., plastic tubing that carries water to the high-speed handpiece, air/water syringe, and ultrasonic scaler) promote bacterial growth and development of biofilm due to the presence of long narrow-bore tubing, inconsistent flow rates, and the potential for retraction of oral fluids. Dental health care personnel and patients could be placed at risk of adverse health effects if water is not appropriately treated.  All dental units should use systems that treat water to meet drinking water standards (i.e., ≤ 500 CFU/ mL of heterotrophic water bacteria). Independent reservoirs—or water-bottle systems—alone are not sufficient. Commercial products and devices are available that can improve the quality of water used 

in dental treatment. Consult with the dental unit manufacturer for appropriate water maintenance methods and recommendations for monitoring dental water quality. During surgical procedures,1 use only sterile solutions as a coolant / irrigant using an appropriate delivery device, such as a sterile bulb syringe, sterile tubing that bypasses dental unit waterlines, or sterile single-use devices. Guidance on dental unit water quality can be found in the Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental HealthCare Settings — 2003 (available at: www.cdc.gov/ mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf), and the CDC Boil-Water Advisories and the Dental Office Fact Sheet (available at: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/ faq/dentalunitwaterquality.htm).

Potential Pathogens Isolated from Dental Units:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Can cause 

Wound infection, septicemia, pneumonia, granulomatous pneumonitis.

Pseudomonas sp. Burkolderia- Can cause wound infection, septicemia, pneumonia

Legionella sp- Can cause  Pneumonia, wound infection, Pontiac Fever

Aquatic Mycobacteria-Can cause wound infection and pneumonia.