Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories

Abstract Dental simulation head model laboratories are crucial for clinical simulation training for stomatological students, yet the maintenance of their dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) has been overlooked. This study investigated water contamination in DUWLs within these laboratories and proposed so...

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Main Authors: Biyao Li, Yuya Hu, Yiqi Wang, Chengqi Zhang, Zimo Wang, Xujie Peng, Jianying Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89010-3
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author Biyao Li
Yuya Hu
Yiqi Wang
Chengqi Zhang
Zimo Wang
Xujie Peng
Jianying Feng
author_facet Biyao Li
Yuya Hu
Yiqi Wang
Chengqi Zhang
Zimo Wang
Xujie Peng
Jianying Feng
author_sort Biyao Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dental simulation head model laboratories are crucial for clinical simulation training for stomatological students, yet the maintenance of their dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) has been overlooked. This study investigated water contamination in DUWLs within these laboratories and proposed solutions. Water samples were collected from 12 dental chairs in three laboratories at three time points: the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. At the start of the semester, severe contamination was observed, with colony counts of 11,586 $$\:\pm\:$$ 1715 CFU/ml for high-speed handpieces and 5375 $$\:\pm\:$$ 874 CFU/ml for three ways syringes. As the semester progressed, colony counts gradually decreased but remained above clinical thresholds. Both 20 mg/L organochlorine disinfectant and 20 mg/L chlorine dioxide were effective in reducing bacterial contamination below standard ranges three days post-disinfection. Microbial diversity analysis revealed Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota as the dominant bacterial phyla, with Ascomycota as the dominant fungal phylum. Potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Ralstonia, Mycobacterium, Legionella, Paenibacillus, Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, and Prevotella, as well as fungi like Fusarium and Penicillium, were detected. Therefore, urgent attention is needed to address DUWL contamination in dental laboratories, and it is recommended to disinfect DUWLs using either 20 mg/L organochlorine disinfectant or 20 mg/L chlorine dioxide every three days.
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spelling doaj-art-92c4a71bc99e425c8bf4dc58da0e8eaa2025-08-20T03:00:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-89010-3Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratoriesBiyao Li0Yuya Hu1Yiqi Wang2Chengqi Zhang3Zimo Wang4Xujie Peng5Jianying Feng6School of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityAbstract Dental simulation head model laboratories are crucial for clinical simulation training for stomatological students, yet the maintenance of their dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) has been overlooked. This study investigated water contamination in DUWLs within these laboratories and proposed solutions. Water samples were collected from 12 dental chairs in three laboratories at three time points: the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. At the start of the semester, severe contamination was observed, with colony counts of 11,586 $$\:\pm\:$$ 1715 CFU/ml for high-speed handpieces and 5375 $$\:\pm\:$$ 874 CFU/ml for three ways syringes. As the semester progressed, colony counts gradually decreased but remained above clinical thresholds. Both 20 mg/L organochlorine disinfectant and 20 mg/L chlorine dioxide were effective in reducing bacterial contamination below standard ranges three days post-disinfection. Microbial diversity analysis revealed Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota as the dominant bacterial phyla, with Ascomycota as the dominant fungal phylum. Potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Ralstonia, Mycobacterium, Legionella, Paenibacillus, Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, and Prevotella, as well as fungi like Fusarium and Penicillium, were detected. Therefore, urgent attention is needed to address DUWL contamination in dental laboratories, and it is recommended to disinfect DUWLs using either 20 mg/L organochlorine disinfectant or 20 mg/L chlorine dioxide every three days.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89010-3Dental simulation head model laboratoryDental unit waterlinesMicrobial contaminationOrganochlorine disinfectantChlorine dioxideHigh-throughput sequencing
spellingShingle Biyao Li
Yuya Hu
Yiqi Wang
Chengqi Zhang
Zimo Wang
Xujie Peng
Jianying Feng
Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
Scientific Reports
Dental simulation head model laboratory
Dental unit waterlines
Microbial contamination
Organochlorine disinfectant
Chlorine dioxide
High-throughput sequencing
title Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
title_full Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
title_fullStr Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
title_full_unstemmed Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
title_short Periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
title_sort periodic detection and disinfection maintenance of dental unit waterlines in dental simulation head model laboratories
topic Dental simulation head model laboratory
Dental unit waterlines
Microbial contamination
Organochlorine disinfectant
Chlorine dioxide
High-throughput sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89010-3
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