The Effects of Using Ozone Treated Water on Biofilm Accumulation in Dental Unit Water Lines
Abstract
The control of bacterial contamination in dental unit water has been a focus of public health for many decades. It has long been established that water dispensed from dental units can potentially contain a greater density of bacteria than would be suitable for municipal drinking water (1, 2). The many areas of small diameter tubing in dental units provide a suitable environment for the formation of biofilm, which can then lead to greater levels of planktonic bacteria in the water dispensed and used during patient care (3). While the majority of the bacteria found in these biofilms are considered benign, and are typical of those usually found in potable water, known pathogenic species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Legionella sp. have been isolated from dental units (2, 4, 5). This poses a potential threat to public health, and to dental healthcare workers who are routinely exposed to aerosols produced from dental unit water (2, 4, 5). While this concern is in many respects theoretical, there have been prominent cases where contaminated dental unit water has been suspected in causing infection in dental patients and dental professionals (2, 4, 6, 7). As a result of these findings, there is now great public pressure on the dental profession to ensure that the bacterial exposure to patients and dental professionals is minimized. Current recommendations indicate that water sourced from dental units should exhibit bacterial counts consistent with existing standards for potable drinking water (2). Strategies for minimizing bacterial contamination of dental unit water have focused on three main areas (8). One area of development in recent decades has been improved design of dental chairs with internal components intended to reduce the potential for biofilm formation. Another area of focus involves periodic use of chemical treatments to eradicate or reduce existing biofilm within dental unit water lines.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1183068
Entities
People
- Christopher D Pesut
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences