Dental Water Safety Education

Yes. In addition to isolation, retraction and keeping the working environment clean and dry the DryShield system provides a high-volume continuous suction to help control and reduce aerosols. 

We believe the best approach is multi-layered — involving standard precautions in the office alongside measures to help reduce aerosol and splatter during procedures. See our step-by-step checklist with tips for controlling aerosol and reducing the risk of infection.

For dentists using traditional isolation, better isolation and control of the working area will lead to a 25-40% reduction in chair time on every procedure. Greater efficiency will allow you to fit more into each appointment, schedule more appointments, and free up your assistant to be more productive.

For dentists using other modern isolation systems, DryShield offers the only fully autoclavable system and mouthpieces on the market. DryShield autoclavable mouthpieces can be sterilized alongside your other dental instruments. This means a lower cost per use so modern isolation can fit into the economics of every dental practice.

With DryShield, the days of juggling dry angles, cotton rolls, gauze, clamps, high suction, rubber dams and saliva ejectors are over. On average, DryShield dentists see a 25-40% reduction in chair time on every procedure. For more detail on the time savings by specific procedure, see the results of our study on dentist productivity with DryShield.

Yes! The DryShield system was designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly. The flagship DryShield system is the first and only fully autoclavable all-in-one isolation system on the market, including autoclavable mouthpieces that can be sterilized and reused. Our single-use mouthpieces were also designed to be 100% recyclable.

Install in seconds by twisting off your existing HVE and twisting the DryShield DS1 system onto the existing hose. You’re now ready to enjoy all the benefits of DryShield!

Use our portable kit, insert DryShield DS1 into one end of the portable operatory kit and plug the other metal end into the standard HVE tip.

Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants can all benefit from the many advantages of DryShield. Assistants especially love how DryShield allows them to multi-task.

All dental procedures requiring proper care, visibility, suction can be made even more efficient with DryShield, including sealants, fillings, crowns, implants, extractions, scaling and planing. Nearly every dentist using modern isolation will enjoy greater productivity savings.

DryShield mouthpieces are designed to accommodate all possible dental situations from a small child to full-grown adults. DryShield can even fit adults with limited opening and TMJ issues. Our goal is to provide dental professionals with an array of customization options to maximize patient comfort and facilitate dental work of the highest quality. Autoclavable DryShield mouthpieces come in 5 different sizes: X-Pedo, Pediatric, Small, Medium and Large. Each autoclavable mouthpiece includes an interchangeable bite block for that size, which can be used with other mouthpieces for the perfect fit. Single-use mouthpieces (with bite block attached) come in 4 different sizes: Pediatric, Small, Medium and Large. The Small and Medium sizes are appropriate for a typical adult, while the Pediatric size is a good starting point for a pediatric patient. See how to size and place a mouthpiece in our short video.

Absolutely! DryShield mouthpieces are designed for patient comfort using soft, flexible material that contours to the patient’s mouth.

Spray a mixture of air and water from the syringe inside the connector area of the mouthpiece. Slide and twist the moist, lubricated mouthpiece onto the DryShield DS1 until it locks into place. See how it works in our short video.

It takes just seconds to insert a mouthpiece into a patient’s mouth and adapt it for a comfortable fit. Learn how to place a mouthpiece in our short video.

A good patient introduction describes the benefits to the patient and how the DryShield mouthpiece works and guides the patient to breathe through their nose. For pediatric patients, see our Tip of the Month on Introducing DryShield to Young Patients.

Both the DryShield DS1 and autoclavable mouthpieces are completely autoclavable. Autoclavable mouthpieces can be sterilized alongside your other dental instruments. (The single-use mouthpiece option is not autoclavable and cannot be sterilized or reused.) See our Sterilization section for detailed instructions on how to sterilize the DryShield DS1 and autoclavable mouthpieces.

It depends. If you have the valved Sterisil® Cartridge, then no! It is designed with an automatic shut off valve! Simply unscrew the old Sterisil® Cartridge and replace it with a new one. If you have the inline Sterisil® Cartridge then you will need to shut off the main water valve to change this Cartridge type.

Water pressure may be too low or the deionizing resin may be expired. Use a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) monitor to check the output water to confirm the TDS is near zero. If the TDS is greater than 10 units above the initial background level, the DI resin is expired.

The Sterisil® Cartridge is designed to last up to 1 year; however this is dependent on source water hardness and quantity of water treated. The Sterisil® Cartridge removes all incoming dissolved solids so it is necessary to monitor the treated water to determine the actual useful life of the filter which should not exceed one year. This is easily done with a battery operated hand-held Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) monitor. Please note that existing mineral deposits in the dental lines will gradually be removed and will be detected on the TDS monitor. It is recommended that you determine what the baseline TDS level is with a new Sterisil® Cartridge so that you will have an action level to change the cartridge when the TDS reaches 10ppm over the baseline level indicating the deionizing (DI) resin in the Sterisil® Cartridge is about to expire. 

The deionizing (DI) resin will start to give off an amine odor when the resin is expired. 

No, the Sterisil System™ is designed to treat water for the filling of independent bottle reservoirs for dental chair side designs, or can be directly plumbed to dedicated lines to each operatory unit. In addition, the Sterisil System can provide autoclave water (for table top size autoclaves) to dispensing faucets as well as be directed to a drinking water dispenser. The G4 is not designed as a full building/office water treatment system.

The lifespan of G4 cartridges is determined by the incoming source water quality and the volume of water used. Most locations can expect Stages 1, 2 and 3 to last approximately one year. The Stage 4 cartridges may last between 4 to 12 months depending on water quality and usage.

The life of the Sterisil System™ filters and UV light is one year under normal use treating tap water with moderate hardness. If tap water has over 170 ppm TDS hardness or high volume of deionized (DI) water is produced for autoclaves, the DI cartridges may need to be replaced more frequently than once a year. The Sterisil System™ is equipped with automated monitoring to provide notification of this condition.

This issue will occur once the Stage 4 cartridges have been depleted. Ensure the cartridges are promptly replaced when the effluent water quality dictates.

The main water valve does not need to be shut off. All Cartridges are fitted with an automated shut off valve. Simply unscrew the filters, remove and replace with the new filters.

The main water valve does not need to be closed when changing filters. Each filter connects to a valve head with an automatic shut-off valve that cuts off water flow once the cartridge has been removed.

The G4 features built-in alarms to indicate when specific cartridges are ready to be replaced. The “Autoclave Water Quality” indicator will flash red and the G4 will alarm when the lead Stage 4 is ready to be replaced. The “Dental Water Quality” indicator will flash yellow once 90% of the Stage 5’s capacity has been used. The indicator will flash red when you have used 100% of the Stage 5’s capacity.

No need to be alarmed. There are several possibilities for triggering the alarm. Simply contact Sterisil Technical Assistance for help in determining your specific trigger. Unplugging the system is not recommended as it will also turn off the UV light and may compromise the quality of your dental water.

The G4 requires a minimum incoming source pressure of 65 PSI to function optimally. Inadequate source pressure can result in low water pressure from handpieces and faucets directly plumbed to it. A booster pump is recommended when incoming water pressure is below 65 PSI. 

Insufficient handpiece/faucet pressure can be caused by several issues. Most commonly it is the following: Insufficient tank size, Expired tank, Insufficient incoming source pressure, Improper system configuration.

The stream of brine water will reduce from a constant stream to a “pulse” of water as the tanks fill. You should also check the orientation of the permeate pump as this can affect the brine flow. The long arrow should always point toward the ceiling. If your tanks are full and this issue persists, contact Sterisil customer support.

The G4 will continually produce water even if the power is disconnected. The standard AC plug supplies power for the alarms. The UV light is equipped with its own power cord and transformer. In the event of an alarm, unplugging the system or UV light is not recommended.

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) Cartridge is rated to produce 50 gallons of purified water per day. To have water ready for on-demand use, water must be stored in tanks. The larger tank stores reverse osmosis water and the smaller tank stores treated dental water. The system will continually fill these tanks as water is used from the system. 

The purpose of the tanks is for reserve storage for use no matter what time of day. The reserve tanks can be upgraded in size to accommodate up to 100 dental units per system and are available in 4 gallon, 10 gallon and 14 gallon sizes.

The Reserve tank contains Deionized water for your autoclaves.

It’s reserved for both autoclave water and dental water. The dental water has a second small reserve tank.

No, you only use about 100mls per minute when the water is running. Net water in the larger tank is 10 liters plus 5 liters in the smaller, dedicated dental water tank. The system produces 8 liters per hour.

Yes, The reserve bladder tanks will still operate correctly if set on their side.

A booster pump is recommended when the incoming water pressure is less than 65 PSI, or there is an elevation change between the G4 and the dental operatories/dispensing faucets. For direct feed applications, if the chair furthest from the system is more than 50 feet, a booster pump may be needed to maintain adequate water pressure at the handpiece.

The Pre-Filter reduces the incoming source water’s particulates to improve the water quality entering the G4. A Pre-Filter is not required for it to function, but it is highly recommended with water sources of 250 total dissolved solids parts per million or higher.

Though the water from the Autoclave and Dental lines is not directly harmful, Sterisil does not recommend consumption of water from these faucets.

A shock treatment for units that will be directly plumbed to the system is beneficial prior to installation but not required. Independent bottle reservoir units can be shocked as needed with Citrisil™ tablet shock.

The DI filters have been depleted and require new replacements.

It continually makes water. The power is for the alarms and UV light. The supply water is provided continuously to allow regeneration of water for the reserve tanks.

A Booster Pump is needed when incoming water has less than 65 psi or there is an elevation change between the Sterisil System and the dental operatory units; for example when the system is installed in a basement and the chairs are located on the floor above.

A Pre Filter Kit is recommended when the source water has very high levels of particulates caused by external environmental factors; for example, during nearby construction work or in certain regions of the U.S. or international regions where the water is extremely hard.

Sterisil products are designed to kill HPC bacteria and dissolve biofilm structures over time, not to remove biofilm structure. If biofilm has grown to a point in which dental lines are being clogged, it is suggested that an alternate initial shock treatment, such as Sterilex, is used in order to remove the biofilm structures from the waterline walls.

No, while the dental water from the Sterisil System is EPA registered to produce water below 10 CFU/ml, it is not registered to produce sterile water.

Yes, It is imperative that only water from the chrome faucet is used in the dental operatory. The water from the white faucet is autoclave water and does not have Sterisil’s EPA registered residual disinfectant in it. If autoclave water or any other water that is not from the chrome faucet is used, it will be necessary to re-shock the dental unit with Citrisil Shock at the end of the working day.

No, it is not recommended that you use the dental water from the Sterisil System to wash or rinse your hands with. The Sterisil system can only produce a limited amount of dental water before the final cartridge needs to be replaced. As this cartridge is somewhat expensive, it is not recommended that it be used for activities that require large amounts of water, such as rinsing or washing hands.

Not to worry. Citrisil Shock is simply a concentrated form of the same non-toxic disinfectant used in the Sterisil System. Your patient may complain of a bitter taste to the water, but your patient is completely safe.

Yes it does! The Distilled formulation of the Sterisil® Straw V2 must be used with water that has a total dissolved solids. The municipal formulation of the straw must be used with water that has a TDS level between 101-250 ppm. Source water levels of TDS can be measured using a handheld TDS meter. Meters can be purchased through your dealer or other online vendors.

TDS is an acronym for Total Dissolved Solids and its measurement informs you of the amount of extra “stuff” that you have in your water besides H₂O. This may include many things commonly found in water such as minerals like calcium, magnesium, or sodium, all of which could impact the performance of your straw.

NO! Bleach is not registered with EPA for use in cleaning dental unit waterlines. Additionally, bleach contains an oxidizing agent that compromises the performance of the straw. If you are attempting to shock your lines, Sterisil recommends the use of Citrisil™ Shock Tablets in conjunction with regular use of the Sterisil® Straw.

Check that your source water TDS falls within the correct range for the type of straw you are using (Distilled: 0-100ppm TDS vs. Municipal: 101-250ppm TDS). Make sure no waterlines are stagnant! Stagnant water causes bacteria to build up which can spread to and contaminate the rest of the dental unit. Shock through the straw with a Citrisil™ Shock tablet according to the Citrisil™ Shock IFU and then continue normal use of the straw. The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) recommends testing your dental unit waterlines on a quarterly basis to ensure continued compliance.

Contact Sterisil Customer Support if the problem persists: (800) 216-5505

Move the straw to another chair that doesn’t have this symptom. If the water flows as normal, check chair components for blockages. Ensure no other products (except for Citrisil™ Shock) have ever been used in the water flowing through the straw. The Sterisil® Straw is not compatible with oxidizing agents (chlorine, iodine, etc.) If those products have been used through the straw, replace the straw.

No problem, contact Sterisil Customer Support and they will send you a new one.

Ensure the Sterisil® Straw is securely twisted onto the luer lock fitting. If needed, contact Sterisil Customer Support and they can send you a new luer lock.

Sometimes silver leaves residue on the bottom of the bottle when it is used for an extended period of time. Simply clean the bottle with a bottle brush and warm water to remove any particulate that has formed over time, then it will be good as new!

No, AC+ Systems only produce water to less than 10ppm TDS. The Citrisil tablets or the Sterisil® Straw is recommended to be used in conjunction with the AC Series to provide EPA registered treated dental water for dental chairs. 

The Stage 4 Cartridges are replaced when the autoclave alarm LED turns red and gives an audible alarm.

The AC+ System works with any sterilizer that needs distilled quality water.

The AC Series can produce up to 28 gallons of on-demand autoclave water a day.