Every September, the dental community comes together to recognize Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM), an annual initiative led by the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) that promotes education, awareness, and best practices in infection prevention.
The 2026 DICAM theme,”Safety Starts with Every Step,” serves as an important reminder that infection prevention is not achieved through a single product, procedure, or policy. It is the result of consistent actions taken every day by dental professionals to create a safe environment for patients and staff.
As a proud ADS Super Sponsor, Sterisil is honored to support DICAM and the dental professionals who make safety a priority year-round. This year’s message also closely reflects our own philosophy behind the Sterisil SAFEWater Solution: every step matters when it comes to dental waterline safety.
Why We Celebrate DICAM
DICAM was created to spotlight the critical role infection prevention plays in dentistry. Throughout the month, dental teams are encouraged to review protocols, pursue continuing education, recognize infection prevention leaders within their practice, and stay informed about evolving best practices.
Infection control is a team effort. From instrument processing and surface disinfection to water quality management, every step contributes to patient confidence, regulatory compliance, and overall practice success.
At Sterisil, we’re especially passionate about one area of infection prevention that is often overlooked: dental unit waterlines.
It’s Not Your Water; It’s Your Waterlines
Many dental professionals assume that if municipal water meets drinking water standards, the water delivered through dental equipment must also be safe. Unfortunately, the challenge usually isn’t the incoming water. It’s the waterlines.
The narrow tubing found within dental delivery systems creates an optimal environment for biofilm to develop and thrive. Once established, biofilm continuously releases bacteria into the water flowing through the lines. That means even high-quality source water can become compromised if waterlines are not managed properly.
That’s why effective dental waterline management requires a comprehensive approach rather than a one-time fix.
The Three Steps to Safe Dental Waterlines
The ADS theme, Safety Starts with Every Step, aligns perfectly with the three pillars of the Sterisil SAFEWater Solution: Test, Shock, Maintian.
Before Starting Treatment: Understand the Risk
Every successful waterline protocol starts with understanding biofilm.
Biofilm is a community of microorganisms that attach to surfaces and produce a protective matrix that helps them survive and multiply. Inside dental waterlines, biofilm can develop rapidly and become increasingly difficult to remove over time.
Understanding how biofilm forms is the first step toward controlling it. When dental teams understand the source of contamination, they are better equipped to implement effective testing, treatment, and maintenance protocols.
Step 1: Test Regularly
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Routine testing helps verify that your waterline program is performing as intended and confirms bacterial counts remain within recommended limits.
Testing can also identify changes in water quality before they become larger issues, helping practices make informed decisions about next steps.
Sterisil offers two complementary testing solutions:
- FASTCheck15® for rapid, in-office results in just 15 minutes
- R2A with FASTRead™ for laboratory analysis and quantitative bacterial counts
Together, these testing methods provide immediate visibility and long-term confidence in your waterline program.
Step 2: Shock Proactively
Many practices think shocking is only necessary when waterline test results fail. In reality, routine shocking should be part of a proactive waterline management strategy too.
While shocking may be necessary to address elevated bacterial counts or significant biofilm contamination, preventative shocking can also help reduce biofilm buildup before it becomes a larger problem.
Citrisil™ Shock uses non-oxidizing silver-ion technology designed to eliminate harmful, odor-causing bacteria and help control biofilm within dental waterlines.
By incorporating routine shocking into an overall protocol, practices can take a proactive approach to maintaining water quality rather than simply reacting to problems.
Step 3: Maintain Continuous Protection
Long-term success depends on consistency. After understanding biofilm, testing regularly, and implementing routine shock treatments, practices need a reliable method for maintaining water quality day after day.
The Sterisil® Straw continuously treats incoming water and is guaranteed to help practices remain below the CDC’s recommended limit of 500 CFU/mL when used as directed.
As part of the SAFEWater Solution, the Sterisil Straw provides year-long treatment without tablets or additional daily maintenance tasks, making consistent compliance easier for busy dental teams.
The Sterisil SAFEWater Solution: Every Step Matters
One of the most common misconceptions in waterline management is that there is a single “most important” step. The reality is that all the steps work together.
Understanding identifies the risk.
Testing verifies performance.
Shocking addresses and helps prevent contamination.
Maintenance helps sustain results.
Remove any one step, and the effectiveness of the overall protocol can suffer. That’s why the Sterisil SAFEWater Solution was designed as a comprehensive approach to helping practices manage dental waterlines with confidence.
Join Sterisil During #DICAM26
This September, we’re celebrating the professionals who make infection prevention a priority while providing resources to help dental teams strengthen their waterline programs.
Register for Our ADS Product Insights Webinar
Learn practical strategies for testing, shocking, and maintaining dental waterlines while earning valuable insights from industry experts.
Nominate Your Infection Control Coordinator
Infection prevention champions deserve recognition. Help us celebrate the individuals who make safety a priority every day in your practice.
Take Advantage of Quarterly Promotions
DICAM is the perfect time to evaluate your current waterline program and stock up on trusted solutions for testing, shocking, and maintenance.
Safety Starts with Every Step
DICAM reminds us that infection prevention isn’t defined by one action. It’s built through consistent habits and evidence-based protocols that support patient safety every day.
As an ADS Super Sponsor, Sterisil is proud to support Dental Infection Control Awareness Month and help dental practices strengthen every step of their waterline safety journey.
When it comes to compliance and patient protection, safety truly starts with every step.
DICAM stands for Dental Infection Control Awareness Month. Led by the Association for Dental Safety (ADS), DICAM is celebrated each September to promote awareness, education, and best practices in dental infection prevention.
The 2026 DICAM theme is “Safety Starts with Every Step,” emphasizing that infection prevention is achieved through consistent actions and protocols throughout the dental practice.
Dental waterlines can develop biofilm that may contribute to elevated bacterial counts in treatment water. Proper testing, shocking, and maintenance help support safe water quality and patient care.
Biofilm forms when microorganisms attach to surfaces and create a protective matrix that allows them to grow and persist inside waterline tubing.
Testing frequency depends on your state’s regulations, equipment, and manufacturer recommendations. Regular testing is essential to verify that bacterial counts remain within acceptable limits and that treatment measures are working effectively. Sterisil recommends testing at least quarterly.
No. While you should shock to remediate a failed test, it’s also important to perform preventative monthly shocking to help control biofilm and support ongoing waterline maintenance.
The Sterisil SAFEWater Solution is a simple yet comprehensive 3-step protocol for dental unit waterline management: Test, Shock, Maintain.
The Sterisil® Straw is an alternative to daily tablets that continuously treats incoming water and is guaranteed to help users remain below the CDC’s recommended limit of 500 CFU/mL when used as directed.
