Home > Resources > Toolkits & Topics > Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWL) > Putting it All Together – Checklist for Dental Unit Water Quality Improvement TOP Putting it All Together – Checklist for Dental Unit Water Quality ImprovementUnderstanding the regulatory framework for devices and products intended to improve water quality is part of the product selection process. A comprehensive approach to improved water quality also includes proper selection, use maintenance, and monitoring of all equipment, devices, and products. Use this checklist to help ensure the quality of dental water. The basics • Contact the dental unit manufacturer to request recommendations for treatment and maintenance Treating waterlines Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of chemical products or devices to treat waterlines. Several best practices will help you ensure good results: • Always wash hands before handling water bottle to prevent inadvertent contamination from hands Testing waterlines Current recommendations indicate that quarterly testing of dental units ensure the best results of water quality. The frequency depends on the type of treatment and the history of the office regarding levels of contamination despite the use of treatment methods. Best practices for testing include: • Test water immediately before scheduled treatment Ask OSAP Q: We are using a dental waterline treatment that goes in the bottle attached to our units. How do I know that it actually makes the water meet the 500 CFU/mL goal in the CDC guidelines? A: The only way to ensure that the product is producing the desired effect is to monitor the water quality. There are several reasons that water quality may remain poor despite the use of a product intended to treat dental waterlines. These can include failure of the product, failure to provide initial "shock" treatment if required, improper use of the product, or contamination of the water bottle. There are several companies that offer water-testing kits, including some university dental schools. It is important to follow the instructions carefully for water quality testing. For suggested frequency of water quality testing, consult the manufacturer of either your dental equipment or the water treatment product.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, March 02, 2022 02:15 PM |