Benefits Of Deionized Water For Your Dental Office
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A dependable supply of purified water is essential for dental practices to deliver optimal patient care. If water flowing through dental unit waterlines is not properly treated, it can foster the growth of harmful bacteria within the equipment, potentially posing a risk to patients.
To prevent the accumulation of dangerous microorganisms and safeguard patient health, the CDC recommends that all dental units utilize water treatment systems meeting established drinking water standards. Historically, dental practices were limited to two primary options for obtaining high-purity water: bottled water delivery services or on-site distillation systems. Both of these methods can be inconvenient and costly. However, a third alternative-a deionized water system-offers a solution that is both convenient and economical.
Filling your autoclave with high-purity water
Consult any dental professional-from dentists and hygienists to clinic support staff-and they will emphasize that a dependable autoclave is vital for seamless daily operations. This device generates steam from purified water to sterilize dental instruments, ensuring they are safe for repeated use.
If impure water is used in the autoclave, minerals and contaminants can accumulate within the steam generator, piping, and valves. This buildup may lead to clogging, reduced efficiency, impaired performance, and a shorter operational life for the equipment.
To protect their investment and extend the service life of costly autoclaves, many dental practices and laboratories choose to utilize high-purity water in their sterilization processes.
High-purity water doesn't always make the most sense
To avoid the recurring challenges of handling heavy water jugs or the high energy costs of on-site distillation, many practices are turning to deionized water systems. These systems provide a continuous, on-demand supply of high-purity water.
A deionized water system works by passing the building's existing water supply through ion-exchange resins, which chemically extract impurities such as sodium, iron, chlorides, and sulfates. Known for leaving no mineral residues, this technology is widely used not only in dental and optical labs but also in pharmacies, food processing, and as a final rinse agent.
