No Buildup, No Problems!

Dental unit water and vacuum lines play a crucial role in patient care. And while their inner workings might not always be top of mind—that is, until something goes wrong—an easy and efficient maintenance routine ensures that treatment will always be smooth, efficient, and safe.

Studies show that dental unit waterlines present a persistent problem for dental practices. With long, narrow tubing, low flow rates, and frequent periods of stagnation, the equipment is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. Left to their own devices, these microbes can develop into biofilm, a sticky, slimy substance that adheres to the waterline tubing. Biofilm accumulation in dental unit waterlines not only puts patients in danger, but when you factor in aerosols and spatter from handpieces, water syringes, or ultrasonic devices, even operatory staff can end up in harm’s way.

Many evacuation systems introduce an additional problem: backflow. When patients close their lips around saliva ejectors, contaminated fluids from suction lines can be pulled into the oral cavity. Buildup of biofilm and debris in suction lines also can cause the vacuum pump to fail, bringing patient care to a halt and leaving practices facing costly downtime or expensive repairs.

Maintenance Made Easy

Given the hazards associated with dental unit water and vacuum lines, it’s imperative that practices stay on top of routine cleaning and maintenance. It's also important to follow water safety and evacuation system guidelines set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency, which call for dental unit waterlines with ≤500 colony forming units of heterotrophic water bacteria per milliliter and vacuum line cleaners that are non-oxidizing with a neutral pH.

Thankfully, Air Techniques offers 2 proven products that make it exceptionally easy for dental teams to follow safety recommendations, while ensuring operatory equipment is always ready to perform at its best.

Monarch Lines Cleaner

Designed for weekly use in independent water bottle systems, Air Techniques’ Monarch Lines Cleaner provides an effective shock and maintenance treatment in one convenient product. This solution features a powerful yet pH-neutral formula that attacks and removes accumulated biofilm from waterlines without corroding or clogging equipment; staining or foaming; or affecting the bond strength of patients’ dental work.

Monarch Lines Cleaner comes ready to use—no mixing or diluting required—and replaces daily water bottle cleaning tablets, leaving no residue behind after use. To top it off, Monarch Lines Cleaner features a fresh mint scent, and one 500- mL bottle can be used to treat a single operatory for several months.

When Dental Product Shopper evaluators reviewed Monarch Lines Cleaner several years ago, all participants discovered how easily and quickly it helped their practices achieve ideal water quality. After using the solution for 5 weeks in his Brooklyn, NY, dental office, Akis Sinesi, DDS, was happy to find that it met his expectations for an “easy, safe, and efficient” method of waterline disinfection. Because the product is chlorhexidine-based, Dr. Sinesi added that “it gives you comfort if any is left behind.”

Similarly, Ana Niehoff, DDS, who practices in Manhattan Beach, CA, said, “I have peace of mind knowing that my patients are getting safe water from our equipment, and my patients appreciate knowing the water entering their mouths is safe from harmful bacterial growth.”

Ultimately, the results of the product review earned Monarch Lines Cleaner the DPS Best Product award, with evaluators unanimously agreeing that they would recommend it to their colleagues.

Monarch CleanStream Evacuation System Cleaner

Similar to Monarch Lines Cleaner, Monarch CleanStream gives practices a simple but powerful solution for cleaning and deodorizing operatory equipment. This daily cleaner penetrates and removes evacuation line buildup while optimizing suction performance. Thanks to its non-corrosive, non-oxidizing, biodegradable, and pH-neutral formulation, Monarch CleanStream is safe for both equipment and staff and fulfills best management practices for amalgam waste.

For added convenience, the product’s highly concentrated, non-foaming, nonenzymatic formula lasts up to 5 days when pre-mixed. Air Techniques recommends that practices mix the solution using the CleanStream Dispenser with Vortex technology—a complementary product that enables easy, no-mess, no-spill mixing and cleaning of 2 operatories in just 3 easy steps: mix, shake, and aspirate.

After using Monarch CleanStream to successfully treat his office’s high- and slow-speed evacuation lines, Stephen H. Berk, DDS, of Annadale, VA, shared his experience with DPS.

“We use the system after oral surgery procedures, as well as to clean the lines once a week. I noticed that all the lines and vacuum seemed to be working more efficiently, with the suction becoming more forceful,” Dr. Berk said.

Likewise, he found that it made regular maintenance a breeze for his team. “My assistants seem to really enjoy the ease and efficiency of how the system works,” he reported, adding, “It is very simple to hook up and leaves no mess or real cleanup.” Considering these benefits, Dr. Berk would suggest Monarch CleanStream to any dentist looking for a quality evacuation system cleaner. “CleanStream allows you to be efficient and save time between patients with little to no mess. I highly recommend this product.”