Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Estimation and Factors Affecting Water Quality and Sustainability in the Private Dental Sector in Greece

Maria Antoniadou
* ORCID logo ,
Anestis Intzes
,
Christos Kladouchas
,
Iliana Christou
ORCID logo ,
Stavroula Chatzigeorgiou
,
Martha Plexida
,
Valantis Stefanidakis
,
Ιoannis Tzoutzas
Version 1 : Received: 11 May 2023 / Approved: 12 May 2023 / Online: 12 May 2023 (13:40:37 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Antoniadou, M.; Intzes, A.; Kladouchas, C.; Christou, I.; Chatzigeorgiou, S.; Plexida, M.; Stefanidakis, V.; Tzoutzas, I. Factors Affecting Water Quality and Sustainability in Dental Practices in Greece. Sustainability 2023, 15, 9115. Antoniadou, M.; Intzes, A.; Kladouchas, C.; Christou, I.; Chatzigeorgiou, S.; Plexida, M.; Stefanidakis, V.; Tzoutzas, I. Factors Affecting Water Quality and Sustainability in Dental Practices in Greece. Sustainability 2023, 15, 9115.

Abstract

Dental healthcare providers, staff and patients are constantly exposed to the risk of infection or cross-infection in the dental office, particularly due to the formation of biofilms within Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs). Good water quality, achieved with environmentally friendly means, is essential in ensuring the safe operation of the clinic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the practices and protocols used in dental offices of Metropolitan Athens in Greece with regards to water quality in DUWLs. The questionnaire about water quality was distributed to dental practitioners in 2022 and was completed by 206 dentists. Water supplied to dental units was mainly from the public network (65.0%), with 55.8% using in-office filtration. Most dentists (71.8%) do not know the active substance of the antiseptic used for the DUWLs, while 96.1% reported having an antiseptic reservoir embedded in the dental unit. Daily flushing with a small and a large amount of fluid was practiced in approximately 83% and 61% of dental offices, respectively. Dental associations should raise awareness regarding water quality and maintenance of DUWLs in dental offices, investing in lifelong learning, while implementing protocols and green strategies.

Keywords

water quality; infection control; occupational practices; dental unit; dental office; waterlines; antiseptic protocols; water sustainability, environmentalism

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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