Over the last few years, there has not been a hotter topic in dentistry infection control than waterline maintenance. With tragic infection outbreaks in Atlanta, Georgia and Anaheim, California impacting at least 91 healthy children displayed across headlines via CNN, NPR, Good Morning America,[...]

What is in your dental unit waterlines? 

You’ve probably seen the pictures and you’ve probably read the news headlines - looking for the answer to this question is not without stress.

Dental waterlines are extremely susceptible to bacterial contamination. Why that’s the case is another conversation altogether, but because of that, they must be treated consistently and effectively.

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding California's recent legislation concerning dental water. This post is going to clear that up once and for all. 

(Updated June 19, 2019)

In 2016, a dental unit waterline contamination at Children’s Dental Group in Anaheim, California led to confirmed mycobacterium abscessus infections in 71 children.

If you haven't read the new OSAP white paper and recommendations on Dental Unit Water Quality, you’ve probably heard about it. 

Last year at the Annual Conference hosted by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP), there was a Q & A with a handful of the leading dental infection control experts, including Shannon Mills, DDS and John A. Molinari, PhD. One of the first questions asked of the panel was [...]

Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs) began getting attention back in the late 1980s as infection control became a major focus for medical professionals. 

With dental unit waterline safety being a bit of a hot topic right now, let's get you off to a great start.

Developing a dental waterline treatment protocol (or procedure or strategy) isn’t difficult. Developing one that works, however, can be. There’s a lot of confusion out there about what works and what’s necessary.