Development of an effective cleaning device in dental unit waterline biofilm

• Project/Area Number: 21791850
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Conservative dentistry
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: YABUNE Toshiaki Osaka University, 大学院・歯学研究科, 助教 (90423144)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2010
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 歯学 / 細菌 / バイオフィルム / デンタルユニット / 管路洗浄 / 給水系 / 酸化水 / 金属腐食

Research Abstract

It has been a matter that biofilm formation was observed inside of the tube in dental unit waterline, and that contaminated water by bacterium biofilm was released in dental treatment. Therefore, we made a prototype of cleaning device equipped with cleaning by sodium hypochlorite and flushing in dental unit waterline, and examined the effect of this device to prevent dental unit waterline contamination. The number of bacteria discharged from the unit equipped with this device was decreased and no biofilm formation was observed inside of the tube during 6 months after installation.