Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Below are a collection of commonly asked questions. If you don’t see your question below, or if you need additional information, feel free to ASK ANODIA using the form on our contact page.
- Small diameter of waterline tubing.
- Water source—distilled water is not the optimal water source for your dental offices because distilled water does not contain an anti-microbial agent such as chlorine in municipal water. Once opened, distilled water is easily contaminated and has a 24-hour shelf life. We recommend city water as long as it is properly maintained.
- Pick-up tube in water bottle—contamination occurs when staff touches the pick-up when filling the water bottle.
- Unclean water bottles—not cleaning the inside of the water bottle on a weekly basis before filling it with water source.
- Handpiece connectors—high-speed handpiece disconnects that are exposed.
- Slow water flow through tubing such as high-speed handpieces.
- Stagnant water in tubes.
- Warm water temperature in water heaters.
- Patient backflow of oral fluids.
- Poor infection control by dental office staff—Not following protocols, not wearing gloves, not washing hands properly, etc.
- “Dead-ends” on dental unit—these are a reservoir for bacteria unless an office is using a drain tube. A ‘dead-end’ on a dental unit is a point at which water does not continuously flow and is stopped by a valve. Most dental units have a water quick-disconnect outlet that is a ‘dead-end’—meaning it is a reservoir for bacteria if not properly cleaned using a drain tube and cleaning agent.
Dental drinking water must meet the standards as set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), APHA (American Public Health Association) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA). The maximum concentration of heterotrophic bacteria is 500 colony forming units (CFU/mL) of drinking water. The ADA recommends less than 200 CFU/mL of drinking water.
Establishing standards for dental water quality was a necessary step and offices should meet these standards; however, even if you are taking precautions to clean your dental unit water source, this step does not address the microorganisms in the waterlines and bottles. Treating the water is not the same as treating waterlines. It is also worth noting that if you are using city water, mineral compounds (which are hard water) can also impact the effectiveness of the waterline cleaning agents. Unlike other waterline cleaners, Mint-A-Kleen is not impacted by your office’s dental water source.
- Patients complain that the water has a bad taste
- Operatory has an unpleasant odor
- Less flow of water from the handpiece/syringe
- Waterlines are clogged with slime
- Equipment shows signs of corrosion
- Identify your Dental Unit Water Source. Are you on City Water (no bottle system)? Are you on a bottle system using one or a combination of city water, distilled, purified, filtered water, etc.?
- Test your water. Dental units have microbial contamination and testing your water is important in order to give you a baseline of your dental unit’s present condition. Use one of our recommended professional water monitoring services to test your dental unit water prior to starting your waterline cleaning protocol. Call a professional test facility for details on how to proceed:
Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
Baylor College of Dentistry
cdms@bcd.tamhsc.edu
214-370-7214
OR
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
SAS@sd.llu.edu Begin Using Mint-A-Kleen and its protocol to clean, treat, and maintain clean waterlines. Mint-A-Kleen Dental Unit Waterline Cleaner can be used with any water source and water filter system,* and with or without a bottle system**. Works with all dental unit manufacturing equipment.
*Excludes ultraviolet-light water cleaning systems.
**If you choose to remain on city water and not use a bottle system, we have a couple of options for your waterline cleaning protocol. See below.Click below for information on using Mint-A-Kleen depending upon your dental unit.
Information for Offices Remaining on City Water with No Bottle System:
MAK-1910 Portable Dental Unit Waterline Cleaning System
MAK-1900 City Water/Bottle Delivery System with Air PurgeInformation for Offices with Self Contained Bottle System:
Mint-A-Kleen- Monitor your water. After implementing your weekly Mint-A-Kleen waterline protocol, we recommend monitoring your water three months after you started your Mint-A-Kleen protocol. If the results do not meet the standard please contact Anodia Systems to discuss your protocol. Otherwise, monitoring your water once every six months should be sufficient to ensure that the protocol is performed correctly. Remember, with staff turnover and vacations, it can be easy to forget infection control processes. Monitoring your water is a simple test to see if the protocol is being implemented correctly.
Air purging removes all of the water from the dental unit waterlines and ensures that only Mint-A-Kleen comes in direct contact with microbial contamination and the inner walls of the waterlines. Products that don't air purge become diluted and less effective. If water is not removed then it weakens Mint-A-Kleen's formula. Mint-A-Kleen is ready to use; no dilution and no mixing.
No. Using Mint-A-Kleen by itself, meets the ADA dental unit water quality goal of ≤ 200 CFU/mL or less.
Dr. Raghunath Puttaiah confirms that Mint-A-Kleen is effective in controlling dental treatment water contamination and does concur with the ADA goal of ≤ 200 CFU/mL or less. Mint-A-Kleen has shown effective control of biofilms in dental unit waterlines (1).
Mint-A-Kleen is the only cleaning product a dental office needs to clean their dental unit waterlines. Mint-A-Kleen is a once per week waterline treatment and does not require the use of multiple products: tablets, powders, cartridges, filters, or irrigants. Our proven formula and protocol is supported by extensive research and has been in use for over 20 years in dental offices across the globe.
(1) Puttaiah, Dr. Raghunath. Efficacy of a Chlorhexidine based Solution in Dental Unit Biofilm Removal and Contamination Control, (January 31, 1997). Page 14. Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. Dallas, Texas.
Air purging is necessary for waterline cleaners that actually treat the waterline tubing. Air purging the waterlines prior to the Mint-A-Kleen treatment ensures that there is no water remaining in the waterlines. This step is important because Mint-A-Kleen will not be diluted and will have direct contact with the inner walls of the dental unit waterline. Many waterline cleaners’ protocols omit important steps. With Mint-A-Kleen’s protocol, you are assured that it treats, cleans and protects your systems’ waterline walls and bottles.
Note: If your dental unit has a water heater, turn off water heater while cleaning your dental unit waterlines. Please contact us with any further questions regarding air purging.
No. Studies have shown that the time of day and length of time spent air purging does not reduce bacteria in waterlines.* Air purging is important because it prepares the waterlines for the Mint-A-Kleen cleaning phase and ensures that there is no water left in the waterlines, which would dilute the Mint-A-Kleen treatment.
*Ref: “The effect of ultrafiltration on the quality of water from dental units.” Dr. Associate Professor T. Larsen. International Dental Journal. 10.2956/indj.2006.56.6.352.
Initial Treatment Instructions for a Single Operatory
Week 1: Use 4 ounces of Mint-A-Kleen once per day for 4 consecutive days (preferably at the end of the business day). (1 bottle)
Week 2-5: Use 4 ounces of of Mint-A-Kleen twice per week. (2 bottles)
Week 6+: Routine Treatment. Follow the Routine treatment plan (1 bottle)