Requirements for maintaining dental water lines

This 5-page overview covers the Dental Unit Waterline Requirements and tips from the CDC, FDA, and ADA — it also includes a factsheet.

Dental Unit Waterlines are known to promote bacterial growth and development of biofilm due to the presence of long narrow-bore tubing, inconsistent flow rates, and the potential for retraction of oral fluids. Oral health staff members throughout the country should be familiar with the issue of dental unit waterline contamination and be prepared to discuss the issue with their patients. Dental health care personnel and patients could be placed at risk of adverse health effects if water is not appropriately treated.