23 January 2023

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IWC Innovations risk prevention, alert system protects from serious dental tool and piping water contamination

Tommaso Albonetti

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IWC Innovations announced on Jan. 9 the launch of its Risk Prevention and Alert System for dental clinics. The Risk Prevention and Alert System informs dental practices when there is a danger or presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that may live and thrive in dental tools and water systems and prevents it through highly specialized filters.

The safety system assists dental practices that are required to monitor equipment used for a variety of applications and, if not continuously checked, can harbor deadly NTM.

Brian Waymire, president and ASSE-certified water safety specialist, said in a news release that dental units push water to hand pieces through a complex network of tubes that cool high-speed rotating instruments used to treat teeth during dental treatments. 

“Water is used to irrigate the operating field or provide water for mouth rinsing before, during and after dental operations,” he said. “Imagine how easy it would be to spread waterborne diseases if the water is not filtered and tested.”

For a dental practice to function, a complex network of dental waterlines supports the various treatments performed by dentists and hygienists. The structure providing water consists of a variety of small valves and connected, plastic piping. Water flows through these units at various speeds – faster in the center of the units and slower toward the walls until it reaches zero in contact with them.

The water speed phenomenon could end up putting dental equipment, and thus patients and staff, at risk due to the issue of water stagnation standstill. Water can sit in tubes overnight, on the weekends and during vacation periods.

Waymire said the “disastrous recipe” can create the unfortunate, perfect situation of forming biofilm and nontuberculous mycobacteria, and encourage the proliferation of other pathogenic bacteria, including Legionella and pseudomonas that contaminate water sources and the pipes that send that water to patients. 

“Comprehensive testing of the water, as well as utilizing highly specialized filters for each water source, are two key components to the risk prevention and alert system,” he said in the news release. “The guidelines are designed for maximum safety by the experts at IWC Innovations.”

For more information, visit iwcinnovations.com.