Use of Electro-chemically Activated Water Solutions in Dental Water Lines

Dental unit water line biofilm has been recognized for more than 35 years as having a potential for contamination and giving risk of infection to patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different electro-chemically activated solutions on biofilm contamination in dental water lines. Methods: Ten units fitted with independent water systems and used for 5 years with distilled water, were divided into 4 groups. In group A (n=2) the units served as a negative control throughout the study. In Group B (n=2) the distilled water was replaced with Steds 1 solution, Group C (n=2) was used with a Steds 3 solution and the units in Group D were rinsed with undiluted Sterilox for three days followed by daily rinsing with a 1:16 dilution. The pH, ORP and TDS values of all solutions were recorded each morning before rinsing the units with the different solutions. At the start, and after 4 weeks bacterial counts in water from all units were determined. Also specimens of tubing were taken from the dental units at the beginning and at the end of the study for SEM investigation. Results: Sterilox (Group D) was successful in complete removal, Steds 1 (Group B) and Steds 3 in partial removal and distilled water (Group A) unsuccessful in removing bacteria from the dental water lines. SEM findings correlated with the above mentioned results.Conclusion: Distilled water was ineffective in controlling bacterial counts and biofilm. Electrochemically activated products were effective for this purpose.