Management of Dental Unit Water Lines

From Volume 29, Issue 6, July 2002 | Pages 292-298

Authors

Hisham Al Shorman

BDS, PhD student

Queen's University, Belfast

Articles by Hisham Al Shorman

Layla Abu Nabaa

BDS, PhD student

Queen's University, Belfast

Articles by Layla Abu Nabaa

Wilson A Coulter

BSc, BDS, MSc, PGCE, PhD, MRCPath

Consultant/Senior Lecturer of Oral Microbiology, Queen's University, Belfast

Articles by Wilson A Coulter

Caroline L. Pankhurst

BSc, BDS, MSc, PhD, MRCPath

Honorary Senior Research Fellow (Former Senior Lecturer in Oral Microbiology), Guy's, King's, St Thomas' School of Medicine and Dentistry

Articles by Caroline L. Pankhurst

Edward Lynch

BDentSci, MA, PhD, FDS

Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Gerodontology, Queen's University, Belfast.

Articles by Edward Lynch

Abstract

Dental unit water lines harbour considerable amounts of bacteria, derived from the biofilm on their inner surfaces, and the continuous reservoir of bacteria carries the potential to infect patients and dental workers alike. This article reviews the different methods of control and provides recent recommendations for ensuring that water of satisfactory quality is delivered to the patient.

Article