| 摘要 |
A method for providing an active sanitized aqueous medium in a dental treatment operation. A chlorinated water supply is treated with a physiologically-safe acidifier to provide a substantially enhanced hypochlorous acid concentration. The water is treated to convert the hypochlorite ion into the much more bacteriocidal undisassociated hypochlorous acid. A reservoir is provided at a suitable location, such as a dental treatment station. Potable water from a suitable source is supplied to the reservoir. The potable water contains free chlorine in an amount of at least 0.1 ppm. The water in the reservoir is treated with a physiologically-safe acidifier selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids, organic acids, and acid esters which have GRAS status. The acidifier is incorporated into the water within the reservoir in an amount sufficient to reduce the pH of the water to a value of about 4 or less to provide a substantially enhanced hypochlorous acid content to eliminate the viability of a mature biofilm produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A stream of water is delivered to a dental unit used in dental treatment from a source of potable water containing free chlorine in an amount of about 0.1 ppm or above. A physiologically-safe acidifier having GRAS status is incorporated into the water delivered to the dental unit in an amount to reduce the pH of the water delivered to the dental unit to a value of about 4 or less.
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