Water is crucial for every dental cabinet, considering that it is used for sterilizing instruments and during all possible procedures. Hidden leaks and improper pipe conditions may bring devastating consequences for dental cabinets and clinics, damaging your business and patients' health.
In his article for Dentistry Media, Krystian Zajac, CEO of Watergate — a company focused on developing water management systems — shared his opinion about the crucial moments you should take into account when organizing and maintaining water flow in your dental facility.
This short review will explore his crucial statements that may save your dental clinic from the disaster.
Tubes condition
Old or low-quality pipes may sometimes provoke sudden leaks. Even smaller ones can cause significant structural damage, seeping into the foundation and walls of your clinic and slowly eroding them. If you do not detect the leak in time or ignore it, the repair will cost you enormous money and take a long time.
During the repair, your facility, logically, will not be able to operate and cure clients, simply meaning that you will have to cancel all your planned appointments, suffering reputational and financial losses.
Sometimes, small leaks may provoke a flood in your facility, destroying your dental equipment, computers, and clinical records.
Microbial hazard
Dental unit waterlines – are crucial for dental practice, and poor water management may turn them into bacterial incubators. Warm temperature, stagnant water, and damp environments are perfect for pathogens' growth.
Food and Drug Administration and American Dental Association pay special attention to dental unit waterlines and published extensive guidelines about how dental facilities should service these devices, including sterilization, cleaning, and other essential practices.
Neglecting these rules may be "fatal" for your dental facilities. You may face legal action if some outbreaks happen, resulting in hefty fines and reputational losses.
Sustainable practice
In addition, it's important to note that water overuse is harmful to world ecology and not only because you waste priceless fresh water. Every cubic meter of liquid produces about 10.4 kilograms of CO2 emission due to the energy used by dental equipment.
In some progressive countries, where eco-agenda is especially popular, ecology-safe practices may become a factor that can increase your income because, for instance, in the UK, 75% of citizens are prepared to pay extra for sustainable practices.
