Comparison of dental water quality management procedures.

The effectiveness of ADA-recommended approaches for reducing dental unit waterline, or DUWL, contamination was investigated using newly installed dental units. Over a 2-month period, the authors studied independent water reservoirs, a sodium hypochlorite disinfection regimen, daily draining and purging of DUWLs and point-of-use filters by assessing microbial contamination and biofilm development using scanning electron microscopy. The findings demonstrate that DUWL contamination can be controlled when dental personnel use available technologies and adhere to recommended maintenance protocols.