title: Dental unit waterlines: source of contamination and cross-infection.
abstract: Dental chair units (DCUs) are used in the treatment of many patients throughout each day and microbial contamination of specific component parts is an important potential source of cross-infection. The quality of dental unit water is of considerable importance since patients and dental staff are regularly exposed to water and aerosols generated from the dental unit. This water hosts a diverse microflora of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, protozoa, unicellular algae and nematodes which may be contaminated with micro-organisms found in the biofilm formed due to water stagnation in the narrow-bore dental unit waterline (DUWL) tubings. The water thus contaminated, when used for various treatment procedures through dental handpieces, air/water/three-in-one syringe, etc., produces aerosols that can cause infection. The present review emphasises the risks of infection from DUWL and various water treatment procedures available to disinfect the DUWLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Ranakpur road, Udaipur 313001, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atray
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paiwal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balasubramanyam
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duraiswamy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D003770:Dental Offices; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014871:Water Microbiology