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Do I need to flush my dental lines when I am not using them or in the building?

Ask OSAP shared this question with OSAP’s Vice Chair Dr. Doug Risk (his areas of expertise include dental unit waterlines) who has provided the following response:

Thank you for your question on this very important and timely topic. This is a very complex subject and one that has not been addressed in such a wide-spread situation. The idea that one single solution would be appropriate for every dental office would be nice but may be unrealistic. Several types of water systems and disinfectants are being used in dental offices and they all work differently so there may not be a single solution.

The best advice would be to check with the manufacturer of the dental unit and the disinfectant system and see if there is a common recommendation as to how to treat the water system for closure and how to re-activate the system when the office is reopened.

OSAP is aware that there may be some contradictions in guidance and there may be lack of consensus. Our Scientific Advisory Committee can begin to research this subject and provide the information that we find on our website. ¹

Resources

(1) E-mail communication from Dr. Doug Risk to Michelle Lee dated March 23, 2020.