WATERCLAVE

The American Dental Association (ADA), the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedure (OSAP), and the Centers for Disease Control recommended new guidelines for water filtration in America’s dental offices, requiring that previous methods utilized – such as dual filtration systems and a dual pretreatment flushing method – be upgraded to standards like those obtainable using a newly-developed system known as the Waterclave Filtration System.

While our practice previously employed dual filtration systems and a dual pretreatment flushing method to help minimize the bacteria count in our water lines, we realized this was not enough. Therefore, our Waterloo office has purchased and installed the high tech Waterclave water filtration system, at a cost of over $35,000. Our office is the first of six in the United States to implement this revolutionary new technology. Our great results of water purification helped obtain FDA certification for this product.

WATERCLAVE IN ACTION

Dental units and their waterlines, by design, efficiently manage water through their respective water ports, but these low-flow and narrow tubing diameter characteristics create an ideal environment for bacteria to attach and multiply, creating a biofilm that can contaminate dental unit water to greater than 250,000 CFU/ml. Organisms isolated from dental unit water that may pose specific risks to susceptible individuals include Pseudomonas, legionella, and non-tuberculous Mycobacterium species.

The Waterclave Water Purifier’s closed system uses the same effective microbial control methods as the autoclave, using deoxygenating steam under pressure (270°F, 25psi) to rid dental treatment water of viable bacteria. The result is safe, bacteria-free coolant water.

The Waterclave Water Purifier exceeds the ADA goal for dental unit water quality. It helps protect from exposure to bacteria-laden aerosols and gives patients clean, high quality dental treatment water.