What is ANSI/ADA Standard No. 167 about?
This standard provides test methods for use by dental product manufacturers for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment methods intended to prevent or inhibit the formation of biofilm, or to remove biofilm, in dental unit procedural water delivery systems under laboratory conditions. This standard does not establish specific upper limits for bacterial contamination or describe test methods to be used in clinical situations.
Download the Executive Summary (Free for ADA members)
Standard No. 167
What are the requirements I should know about in the test methods for dental unit waterline biofilm treatment?
Depending upon the specific technical approach of a treatment method and its intended benefits, the performance objectives of a dental unit procedural water delivery system treatment method can include one or both of the following:
- prevention or inhibition of biofilm formation on surfaces within the dental unit procedural water delivery system;
- removal of biofilm from surfaces within the dental unit procedural water delivery system.
What’s the bottom line?
ANSI/ADA Standard No. 167 specifies test methods that dental product manufacturers can use for evaluating the effectiveness of dental unit waterline treatment methods intended to prevent or inhibit the formation of biofilm, or to remove biofilm. This helps ensure that the waterline treatment methods manufactured for use in your practice are working as they should be.