Do you disinfect your dental water lines? |
931 total votes |
|
| 48% |
| Yes |
|
| 52% |
| No |
|
|
If you are not disinfecting your waterlines it is because? |
187 total votes |
|
| 6% |
| Costs too much |
|
| 14% |
| Requires to much time |
|
| 38% |
| It is not important |
|
| 32% |
| Not required to do so |
|
| 9% |
| Not enforced to do so |
|
|
Are you familiar with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dental output water guidelines? |
328 total votes |
|
| 25% |
| I understand the guidelines clearly |
|
| 18% |
| I am aware of the guidelines however they are difficult to understand |
|
| 14% |
| I am aware of the guidelines however they are difficult to implement |
|
| 3% |
| I am aware of the guidelines however they are too costly to implement |
|
| 9% |
| I am aware of the guidelines however they are not important |
|
| 30% |
| I am not aware of the guidelines |
|
|
What method of waterline disinfection do you use? |
339 total votes |
|
| 27% |
| Weekly Chemical Flushing |
|
| 10% |
| Daily Chemical Flushing |
|
| 14% |
| Continuous Treatment |
|
| 6% |
| Other |
|
| 42% |
| None |
|
|
If you are using chemical flushing what type are you using? |
199 total votes |
|
| 26% |
| Chlorine based |
|
| 4% |
| Peroxide based |
|
| 4% |
| Alcohol based (mouthwash) |
|
| 26% |
| Chlorhexidine based |
|
| 31% |
| Other |
|
| 6% |
| Iodine based |
|
| 3% |
| Silver based |
|
|
If you use chemical flushing to treat your dental unit water lines, how much clinician time per week does it require? |
167 total votes |
|
| 71% |
| 10 minutes per unit |
|
| 16% |
| 20 minutes per unit |
|
| 8% |
| 30 minutes per unit |
|
| 5% |
| 40 minutes per unit |
|
|
If using a liquid chemical germicide, is it legally marketed with a required EPA registration for treating dental unit water lines? |
152 total votes |
|
| 74% |
| Yes |
|
| 26% |
| No |
|
|
How often do you test your waterlines for bacteria compliance (cfus)? |
317 total votes |
|
| 4% |
| Weekly |
|
| 5% |
| Monthly |
|
| 5% |
| Quarterly |
|
| 6% |
| Annually |
|
| 79% |
| Not at all |
|
|
Do you purge each dental line for a minimum of 20-30 seconds after each patient? |
333 total votes |
|
| 52% |
| Yes |
|
| 48% |
| No |
|
|
How important do you feel DUWL disinfection is for patients and staff? |
324 total votes |
|
| 20% |
| Very important |
|
| 41% |
| Somewhat important |
|
| 40% |
| Not important at all |
|
|
How concerned are you with patient and employee exposure to endotoxins released after disinfecting dental water? |
333 total votes |
|
| 8% |
| Very concerned |
|
| 10% |
| Moderately concerned |
|
| 17% |
| Somewhat concerned |
|
| 37% |
| Not concerned |
|
| 28% |
| Unaware of the problem |
|
|
How are your dental units supplied with water? |
335 total votes |
|
| 48% |
| Direct municipal supply |
|
| 13% |
| Independent bottle supply using municipal water |
|
| 39% |
| Independent bottle supply using distilled water |
|
|
If you have an independent bottle supply, do you clean your bottles? |
271 total votes |
|
| 21% |
| Daily |
|
| 22% |
| Weekly |
|
| 6% |
| Monthly |
|
| 21% |
| Not at all |
|
| 31% |
| Do not have independent bottle supply |
|
|
Do you believe that using distilled water in an independent bottle supply delivery system without using a waterline disinfectant will provide dental output water that meets the CDC guideline of less than 500 cfu/ml? |
304 total votes |
|
| 36% |
| Yes |
|
| 64% |
| No |
|
|
How many dental units do you have? |
337 total votes |
|
| 31% |
| 2 to 3 |
|
| 54% |
| 4 to 6 |
|
| 9% |
| 7 to 9 |
|
| 6% |
| 10 or more |
|
|
What is your annual cost per dental unit for waterline disinfection product and labor? |
229 total votes |
|
| 49% |
| Less than $200 per year |
|
| 29% |
| Less than $400 per year |
|
| 9% |
| Less than $600 per year |
|
| 14% |
| Greater than $600 per year |
|
|
Have you consulted with the dental unit manufacturer for appropriate methods and equipment to maintain the recommended quality of dental water? |
308 total votes |
|
| 18% |
| Yes, I received clear guidance |
|
| 15% |
| Yes, however I did not receive clear guidance |
|
| 4% |
| Yes, however the dental unit is not equipped to maintain water quality |
|
| 63% |
| No, I did not know that the dental unit manufacturer should provide appropriate methods |
|
|
Have you followed recommendations for monitoring water quality provided by the manufacturer of the unit or waterline treatment product? |
308 total votes |
|
| 20% |
| Yes |
|
| 28% |
| No |
|
| 52% |
| Did not know manufacturer provided recommendations |
|
|
When considering the purchase of a new dental unit, would you prefer it to be equipped with antimicrobial tubing and continuous disinfection equipment? |
320 total votes |
|
| 41% |
| Strong preference |
|
| 32% |
| Moderate preference |
|
| 15% |
| Low preference |
|
| 13% |
| No preference |
|
|
Which of the following is most important to you in selecting a waterline disinfection product? |
305 total votes |
|
| 11% |
| Cost of product |
|
| 11% |
| Cost of labor to maintain disinfection program |
|
| 45% |
| Ease of use |
|
| 10% |
| Requires minimal clinician time |
|
| 22% |
| Effectiveness |
|
|
Which of the following subjective clinical aspects of disinfection methods is MOST important to your choice of product? |
294 total votes |
|
| 12% |
| Residual taste, odor or color |
|
| 28% |
| Corrosiveness to equipment |
|
| 11% |
| Effect to bonding strength |
|
| 43% |
| Safety to patient and staff |
|
| 7% |
| Other |
|
|
Do your dental unit waterlines plug up, discharge biofilm, or discharge water with a foul smell or color? |
311 total votes |
|
| 78% |
| Has not yet happened |
|
| 14% |
| Rarely |
|
| 5% |
| Sometimes |
|
| 3% |
| Often |
|
|
Would you replace existing biofilm contaminated tubing with antimicrobial tubing and automated disinfection equipment if the cost is less than $400? |
309 total votes |
|
| 19% |
| Unlikely |
|
| 52% |
| Possibly |
|
| 29% |
| Most likely |
|
|
Do you maintain a Pollution liability policy to cover any potential claims from contaminated dental water? |
306 total votes |
|
| 8% |
| Yes |
|
| 92% |
| No |
|
|
Who makes the purchase decisions in your office regarding buying supplies used in the hygiene department? |
319 total votes |
|
| 56% |
| The Dentists |
|
| 32% |
| The Hygienists |
|
| 11% |
| Other |
|
|
When purchasing gloves worn in your office, who makes the decision? |
320 total votes |
|
| 38% |
| The Dentists |
|
| 3% |
| The Hygienists |
|
| 13% |
| The Dental Assistants |
|
| 46% |
| Each person chooses their own |
|
|
What criteria is important when evaluating gloves? |
315 total votes |
|
| 3% |
| Brand name, reputation |
|
| 22% |
| Cost |
|
| 52% |
| Comfort |
|
| 3% |
| Recommendation from trade journal, newsletter, message boards. |
|
| 19% |
| Quality (minimal defects/pinholes) |
|
|
If you or anyone in your office changed gloves recently, was it: |
243 total votes |
|
| 27% |
| from latex to non-latex (synthetic vinyl or nitrile) |
|
| 35% |
| from powdered to powder free glove |
|
| 6% |
| to change to left right hand specific glove |
|
| 16% |
| due to cost |
|
| 16% |
| quality issue |
|
|
Which is the largest concern regarding gloves in your office: |
312 total votes |
|
| 18% |
| Latex Allergies |
|
| 25% |
| Excessive powder causing dry, itchy hands |
|
| 13% |
| Tired, Cramped Hands |
|
| 26% |
| Personal Protection |
|
| 4% |
| Patient's sensitivity to latex gloves |
|
| 15% |
| Cost |
|
|