Point-of-Use water filters in dental units

Water hygiene and safety in dentistry

The quality of the water in the respective dental units plays a decisive role when it comes to the safety and health of patients and medical staff in dental practices and dental departments.

As such water comes into contact with patients' mucous membranes, for example during rinsing and cooling, dental practices and dental departments in clinics must ensure that the water used is germ-free and microbiologically safe in accordance with Section 23 of the German Infection Protection Act.

Furthermore, medical staff must also be protected against infections caused by contaminated aerosols.

Dental Unit

Measures to prevent microbial contamination

In order to prevent microbial contamination in water-bearing systems of dental units, the KRINKO (Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention at the Robert Koch Institute) set out the following points, among others, in its 2006 recommendation "Infection prevention in dentistry - requirements for hygiene":

  • only water that meets the requirements of the German Drinking Water Ordinance may be supplied to dental units;
  • only disinfection systems with proven effectiveness may be used;
  • any existing biofilm colonization must be removed during retrofitting in order to restore the original condition;
  • a well-maintained dental treatment unit shall not exceed a total bacterial load of 100 CFU/ml; for legionella, the internationally established guideline value of less than 1 CFU/ml should not be exceeded;
  • microbiological testing of the water by an accredited laboratory is advisable every 12 months;
  • any suspicion of a waterborne infection must be investigated;
  • experts agree that water from dental facilities used to treat highly immunosuppressed patients must be free of pseudomonas, cryptosporidium and legionella.

Although this recommendation has no longer been included in the current KRINKO recommendations since the beginning of the year 2021, it continues to serve as a reference (according to the RKI) until updated scientific knowledge on the microbiological quality of water from dental units is available.

Criteria for assessing the microbiological quality of water from dental units are to be addressed in the future KRINKO recommendation "Hygienic examinations in medical facilities", which is currently being prepared.

Need for water filters despite perfect water quality

The complex design with the associated components (e.g. transmission instruments, multifunctional syringes and mouth rinses) and the use of elastomers create an ideal breeding ground for a wide variety of microorganisms in the water-carrying lines of treatment units. Once a unit is contaminated, extensive sanitation measures are required.

For example, the requirement for sterility and microbiological safety is generally only met through the daily use of chemicals to clean and disinfect the water supply system within the respective unit.

However, in order for these chemicals to work properly, it is necessary to filter any contaminated water before it enters the treatment unit. In order to meet this requirement, we have developed a disposable water filter that can be installed in the water supply of treatment units thanks to its compact design and high, consistent flow rate.

Reliable protection against contamination

What the i3 FOUR inline filter has to offer

The i3 FOUR inline filter offers reliable protection against contamination by water-associated pathogens, such as Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or mycobacteria. It is installed in the water supply between the angle valve and the dental unit after successful inspection and, if necessary, treatment of the dental unit (sanitization and disinfection).

In this context, i3 Membrane works closely with ALPRO MEDICAL GmbH which, with its many years of experience in the field of reprocessing dental treatment units, is an expert in this area and able to carry out initial installation of the filters.

  • i3 FOUR in a dental unit
  • i3 FOUR mounted on hose
  • i3 FOUR disposable water filter
  • i3 FOUR technical drawing

Risk of infection from NTM

Media reports and studies – particularly from the USA – document a large number of cases in which children were infected with non-tuberculous mycobacteria – NTM for short – following dental procedures.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria are environmental pathogens that can be found in water and thus also in dental treatment units. Children in particular are susceptible to NTM infections if they are exposed to contaminated water in dental facilities. This can result in serious infections of the lungs, lymph nodes, blood and skin. Such incidents emphasize the need for strict water hygiene measures in the use, maintenance and cleaning of dental units.

The use of disposable water filters can significantly reduce the risk of such infections by providing an effective barrier against NTM and other waterborne pathogens, thus ensuring the safety and health of patients and medical staff.

Would you like to learn more?

Here is a selection of our animations

Watch now: Features & benefits of i3 water filters Watch now: i3 trackApp Watch now: Use of i3 filters

You can find more videos on the topic of "Infection Prevention & Hygiene in Medical Facilities" in our i3 Medical Playlist on YouTube.

Do you have any questions or would you like to receive personal and non-binding consulting? Please contact us!

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