Disinfection of Dental Unit Water Line Using Aloe Vera: In Vitro Study

Abstract

Context. Dental unit waterlines may be heavily contaminated with microorganisms and are a potential source of infection for both practicing staff and immunocompromised patients particularly. Contamination of dental unit water lines could be inhibited with the use of disinfectants. The present study investigates the effect of aloe-vera-based disinfectant in reducing the microbial growth in dental unit water lines (DUWLs). Aims. To compare the efficacy of aloe vera, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in controlling microbial contamination of DUWLs. Materials and Methods. After obtaining baseline water samples, the dental unit waterlines were treated with aloe vera, 10% hydrogen peroxide, and 5% sodium hypochlorite. Each of the three disinfectants was used in increasing concentrations and their inhibiting effect was compared. Water samples were analyzed for microbiological quality by the total viable count (TVC) method. Statistical Analysis Used. SPSS 16. Results. There was significant reduction in mean CFU/ml when treated with disinfectants each for a period of one week. Aloe-vera solution was found to be the most effective in reducing the microbial colonies. Conclusions. Improving the water quality from dental unit water lines is of considerable importance; chemical-based disinfectants can be replaced with herbal disinfectants for treating microbial contamination in dental unit waterlines.

Is water in dental units microbiologically safe?

“…On the inner surface of thin tubes supplying water to a cup and to the tool panel of a dental unit, biofilm may develop, which is a reservoir for bacteria, which consequently affects the continuous contamination of the water flowing through the water system of a dental unit. In addition, the biofilm is resistant to chemical disinfection [8,12,15,25]. In the tested samples of municipal water and the water flowing into the syringe, it was found that the number of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria, including single total coliform bacteria occurred.…”

Aloe vera in dentistry- a review

“…Each disinfectant was used in higher concentration and their inhibiting effect was compared by obtaining baselines water samples. Aloe Vera solutions were found to be most effective in decreasing the microbial colonies [34].…”

Qualidade da água em clínica odontológica na perspectiva microbiológica: uma proposta de intervenção

“…A adição de tiossulfato de sódio nas amostras de água de torneiras e equipos odontológicos é de fundamental importância para inativação do cloro residual, que pode inibir o desenvolvimento dos micro-organismos (ABDALLAH e KHALIL, 2011;KRAMER et al, 2012;PAREEK et al, 2013;COSTA et al, 2016b).…”

“…Devido a essa problemática, autores mencionaram diferentes protocolos para desinfecção das linhas d'água dos equipos com substâncias e produtos comerciais, visando o controle da formação do biofilme (GAWANDE et al, 2008;PERCIVAL et al, 2009;ORRÙ et al, 2010;ABDALLAH e KHALIL 2011;BANSAL et al, 2011;LIN et al, 2011;O'DONNELL et al, 2011;SPEARS, 2011;ROSSI-FEDELE et al, 2011;KRAMER et al, 2012;PAREEK et al, 2013;AGAHI et al, 2014;BARBOT et al, 2014;DALLOLIO et al, 2014;BOWEN et al, 2015;HIKAL, ZAKI, SABRY, 2015;LAL et al, 2015;PETTI;POLIMENI;ALLEN, 2015;COSTA et al, 2016a;DITOMMASO et al, 2016;LIZON et al, 2016;PAWAR et al, 2016;FUJITA, MASHIMA, NAKAZAWA, 2017;SHAJAHAN et al, 2017).…”

“…Na literatura, diversas substâncias e produtos com aplicabilidade na melhoria e manutenção da qualidade microbiológica da água de equipos odontológicos foram relatados(GAWANDE et al, 2008;ORRÙ et al, 2010;BANSAL et al, 2011;LIN et al, 2011;PAREEK et al, 2013;BARBOT et al, 2014;DALLOLIO et al, 2014; LIZO et ________________________________________________________Material e Métodos 38 al., 2015;PETTI;POLIMENI;ALLEN, 2015;PAWAR et al, 2016), entretanto, no Brasil, ainda não há produto comercial aprovado pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) para essa finalidade.Neste projeto, utilizando-se de embasamento científico na revista da literatura e nos desafios existentes desta temática, a inovação tecnológica foi possível por meio do desenvolvimento de um produto passível de produção em larga escala e bem como comercialização. Formulações aquosas isoladas e/ou associadas com diferentes concentrações de substâncias como hipoclorito de sódio(PAREEK et al, 2013), ácido cítrico(FAOT et al, 2014), bicarbonato de sódio(GAWANDE et al, 2008), cloreto de sódio(CIRKOVIC et al, 2017), dodecil sulfato de sódio(GAWANDE et al, 2008), peróxido de hidrogênio(ORRÙ et al, 2010;LIN et al, 2011;PAREEK et al, 2013;BARBOT et al, 2014;DALLOLIO et al, 2014;PETTI;POLIMENI;ALLEN, 2015;LIZON et al, 2016;PAWAR et al, 2016), polissorbato 20 (SLOUP et al, 2016), quitosana (COBRADO et al, 2013 foram desenvolvidas e avaliadas quanto à possível aplicabilidade no controle do biofilme nas linha d'água de equipos odontológicos.…”