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نوع مقاله : Research Paper
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Background and Objective: Water quality in dental units is crucial for the health of patients and staff, as unit waterlines can harbor microorganisms and biofilms. This study aimed to assess microbial contamination in dental unit water in Mashhad.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 23 dental units from 6 clinics were selected. Samples were collected from various unit components, including cup fillers, water spouts, and turbine heads, before and after flushing, over three weeks on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Each sample volume was 50 mL. Samples were analyzed in the laboratory using heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and multiple-tube fermentation methods for heterotrophic and coliform bacteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results: Of the 1242 samples, 78.6% (976 samples) showed bacterial contamination, and 62.4% (615 samples) exceeded the ADA standard of 200 CFU/mL. The mean total bacterial count was 257 ± 54 CFU/mL. Contamination varied across unit components, with the highest levels in the turbine head before flushing. Early-week samples showed higher contamination compared to other days.
Conclusion: Microbial contamination in dental unit water was relatively high. Regular preventive measures such as flushing, use of appropriate filters, and periodic disinfection are essential to reduce the risk of infection transmission and improve the quality of dental care.
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
کلیدواژهها English