We are excited to introduce a product relatively new to dentistry. It is going to make our office even safer for you, our patient, as well as our staff. It is a compound with the chemical name of hypochlorous acid. It is more commonly known as ‘”electrolyzed oxidizing water.” Not only is EOW safe and all-natural, but it is far more effective that the other chemicals used to disinfect. It kills bacteria, bacterial spores and viruses 100 times more effectively than chlorine bleach which has been the standard to which other chemicals are compared. It kills viruses by damaging their cell walls and inactivating their ability to function.
It is on the list of chemicals approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to sanitize against viruses, including the SARS2 COVID19 virus. It is recognized by the CDC in their most current guidelines for disinfection in healthcare setting. When applied in concentrations of 200ppm it effectively inactivates bacteria and viruses in literally seconds rather than minutes.
Although this product is new to dentistry, it has been used commercially in other settings for a number of years. For example, it has been used in the food industry for quite some time. When you go into the grocery store and see a mist being applied to vegetables and produce, this is not water but rather hypochlorous acid.
It is currently being used by airlines, hotels, and an ever-increasing number of situations. It can be applied through spray bottles and mops to disinfect contact surfaces, equipment, floors, and bathrooms. It can even be sprayed directly on clothing and shoes as it does not cause the discoloration seen with chlorine bleach. It is gentle on linens, does not alter color, corrode fabrics, or leave any residue that can cause itching.
In addition it can be applied broadly using foggers. Fogging offers many advantages in that it can distribute EOW into a large area very quickly to disinfect. Fogging reaches areas that are often missed by direct application such as under tables, chairs, and in crevices. It is 100% safe for our staff and our patients. It does not require any special handling. It is a non-irritant and does not require gloves or masks.
We have purchased the equipment designed to generate hypochlorous acid on-site and on demand as this is the most reliable means to generate hypochlorous acid that is fresh and effective. It does not require any high temperatures to do so.
We have begun using hypochlorous acid throughout our office for surface cleaning. In addition, we are fogging our operatories and other areas when indicated.
We will be glad to provide you with any further information about this product and its application. We are “ahead of the curve” because we are one of the first offices in this area to utilize this product. As time goes on, you will be hearing more and more about its use in many healthcare, industrial, and commercial settings. Some people are even using it in their homes!
Although our infection control standards have always been stringent, we have added additional personal protective equipment to add another layer of safely for our patients and staff. We follow the most current guidelines established by the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and utilize only products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to be used in healthcare settings. We are proud to let you know we make the effort to stay in the forefront in all aspects of care in our office. We appreciate the opportunity to care for you.
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