Clinical Research Associates

Disinfectants Tested

Manufacturer

CRA Results (met ADA goal)

FDA Cleared

Advantages

Disadvantages

Glutaraldehyde

Baxter/Schein

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml goal, Product already in office.

Foams after purging, Pungent odor & bitter taste, Requires mixing, Unpleasant if ingested accidentally

.4% (1:10) Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG)

Unspecified/ HibiClens

No

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml goal, Product already in office.

Foams after purging, bitter taste, Requires mixing, Unpleasant if ingested accidentally

1% (1:4) Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG)

Unspecified/ HibiClens

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml goal, Product already in office.

Foams after purging, bitter taste, Requires mixing, Unpleasant if ingested accidentally

Bio-2000

Micrylium Laboratories

Yes

Yes

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml goal, No mixing required. Taste & odor similar to mouthrinse.

Unpleasant in ingested accidentally, leaves sticky oily residue, expensive.

Clorox 1:10 (overnight/daily)

Clorox Company

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml, Inexpensive, readily available

Pungent odor & bitter taste, requires diluting, unpleasant in ingested accidentally, corrodes metals & degrades lines, bleaches carpets, clothing, etc.

Clorox 1:10 (30 minutes/daily)

Clorox Company

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml, Inexpensive, readily available

Pungent odor & bitter taste, requires diluting, unpleasant in ingested accidentally, corrodes metals & degrades lines, bleaches carpets, clothing, etc.

Clorox 1:10 (30 minutes/weekly)

Clorox Company

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml, Inexpensive, readily available

Pungent odor & bitter taste, requires diluting, unpleasant in ingested accidentally, corrodes metals & degrades lines, bleaches carpets, clothing, etc.

EtOh (Everclear, 95%)

State Liquor Store

No

No

Used for human consumption, no mixing required.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal, pungent odor & bitter taste, unpleasant if ingested accidentally, expensive.

EtOh (Everclear, 80%)

State Liquor Store

No

No

Used for human consumption, no mixing required.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal, pungent odor & bitter taste, unpleasant if ingested accidentally, expensive.

Scope Mouthrinse

Local Pharmacy

Yes

No

Reduces organisms to <200 cfu/ml, used for human consumption, no mixing required, pleasant taste, readily available.

Expensive

Rembrandt Mouthrinse

DenMat

No

No

Used for human consumption, no mixing required, pleasant taste, readily available.

Does not reduce organisms to <200 cfu/ml, expensive

In-Line Filters
or Purge Sytems

Manufacturer

CRA Results
(met ADA goal)

FDA Cleared

Advantages

Disadvantages

Clearline Adapter

Sci-Tech Dental Inc.

Yes

Yes

Makes filter change easy, filter is in-line, small in size.

Expensive

Clearline / BacStop

Sci-Tech Dental Inc.

Yes

Yes

Reduces organisms to 200 cfu/ml, filter is in-line, small in size.

Expensive, need to change daily.

DentaPure

MRLB Intnational

Yes

Yes

Reduces organisms to 200 cfu/ml, filter is in-line, small in size.

Puts iodine in water (allergies), expensive, need to change every 3 to 4 days, filter may clog, need to cut line to install.

Air Purge Unit

Flatland Dental Products

No

No

Maintenance is simple, unit is "in-line", small in size.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal.

Independent
Water Systems

Manufacturer

CRA Results
(met ADA goal)

FDA Cleared

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pure System

Pure, Inc

N/A

Yes

Independent water system, two reservoirs on 1 unit, can control quality of water in system.

Expensive.

SWP Sterile Wate
Delivery System

Micro Motors

N/A

Yes

Independent water system, two reservoirs on 1 unit, can control quality of water in system.

Expensive.

Odyssey w/ Silver Catalyst

Germiphene Corp.

Yes

Yes

Meets 200 cfu/ml goal, minimal maintenance required, large reservoir size.

Puts silver into the water, expensive, yearly maintenace required.

AquaSept (InterSept)

Lares Research

Yes

Yes

Can be sterilized, meets 200 cfu/ml goal.

Cannot use fiber optic handpieces, cannot use KaVo handpieces, time consuming, expensive.

Self-Contained Water System

A-dec, Inc.

No

Independent water system, can control quality of water in system.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal.

SteriWater System

Palisades Dental

Yes

Yes

Can be sterilized, meets 200 cfu/ml goal.

Sytem leaks after repeated sterilization cycles.

In-Line Water Systems

Manufacturer

CRA Results
(met ADA goal)

FDA Cleared

Advantages

Disadvantages

GermFree Water System

GermFree Water

No

No

Maintenance is simple, unit is "in-line", water contains no chemicals.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal, need to replace bulbs yearly, expensive.

PureMax (Parrot) Water Unit

Piat New Haven

No

No

Maintenance is simple, unit is "in-line", water contains no chemicals.

Does not meet 200 cfu/ml goal, units heats up to 49^oC.

Monitoring Systems

Manufacturer

CRA Results
(met ADA goal)

FDA Cleared

Advantages

Disadvantages

Bactipure

Sultan Chemists, Inc.

N/A

N/A

Can be used in office.

Messy.

Total Count Sampler

Millipore Corp.

N/A

Yes

Simple to use, gives qualatative count of bacteria, can be used in dental office.

Expensive, bacteria counts too low for accurate quantative measurement.

Coli Sampler

Millipore Corp.

N/A

Yes

Simple to use, gives qualatative count of bacteria, can be used in dental office.

Expensive, bacteria counts too low for accurate quantative measurement.

Heterotrophic Plate
Count Sampler

Millipore Corp.

N/A

Yes

Simple to use, gives qualatative count of bacteria, can be used in dental office.

Expensive, bacteria counts too low for accurate quantative measurement.

Yeast & Mold
Water Sampler

Millipore Corp.

N/A

Yes

Simple to use, gives qualatative count of bacteria, can be used in dental office.

Expensive, bacteria counts too low for accurate quantative measurement.

Paddle Testers

Sultan Chemists, Inc.

N/A

N/A

Simple to use, gives qualatative count of bacteria, can be used in dental office.

Expensive, bacteria counts too low for accurate quantative measurement, bacteria run along sides of paddle.

Aqua-Dent

Aqua-Dent

N/A

N/A

Accurate, quick turn around.

Expensive, limit to # of samples sent.

Comprehensive
Water test Kit

Micrylium Laboratories

N/A

N/A

Accurate, quick turn around.

Expensive, limit to # of samples sent.