Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings—2003
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Slide 84: Components of Devices Permanently Attached to Air and Waterlines
Slide Text
- Do not enter patient’s mouth but may become contaminated
- Use barriers and change between uses
- Clean and intermediate-level disinfect the surface of devices if visibly contaminated
Speaker Notes
Some parts of dental instruments are permanently attached to dental unit waterlines. These items do not enter the patient’s mouth but are likely to become contaminated with oral fluids during treatment procedures. Some examples include handles or dental unit attachments of saliva ejectors, high-speed air evacuators, and air/water syringes.
These components should be covered with waterproof barriers and changed after each use.
If the item becomes visibly contaminated during use, clean and disinfect with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with a tuberculocidal claim (intermediate-level disinfectant) before using it with the next patient.
Page last reviewed: September 22, 2009
Page last modified: April 26, 2005
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion
