What is Team Vista™?
Why should offices use a manintenance and cleaning solution?
In the Team Vista&trade instructions, it says "...If water remains in the bottle at the end of the day, the bottle may be left attached to system manifold and used the following day.” If the office would not use up the water on the 2nd day, should the staff replace the water and add new drops on the 3rd day?
The CDC has established a standard of “less than 500 colony forming units per milliliter for dental unit waterlines." Should offices be conducting a routing test of this?
What is biofilm?
Why are biofilms important and what issues do they cause?
Why do you need to purge dental waterlines?
What does the CDC recommend for dental waterline treatment?
Why does VistaClean&trade have FDA approval and VistaTab&trade have EPA registration?
Are VistaClean&trade and VistaTab&trade compatible with all materials (i.e., water bottles, water lines, all chairs, tubing, etc.)?
What are the effects of mixing with medicaments?
What do I do if I get VistaTab&trade in my eye?
What do I do if I swallow VistaTab&trade?
What does the CDC recommend for dental waterline treatment?
Why does VistaClean™ have FDA approval and VistaTab™ have EPA registration?
Are VistaClean™ and VistaTab™ compatible with all materials (i.e., water bottles, water lines, all chairs, tubing, etc.)?
What are the effects of mixing with medicaments?
For more information about the individual products, please visit the VistaClean™ and VistaTab™ FAQs.
What is Team Vista™?
Team Vista™ is a convenience pack that contains a one ounce bottle of VistaClean™ Irrigant Solution Concentrate and 15 individually wrapped VistaTab™ Dental Waterline Cleaner Tablets. Although these items can be purchased separately as needed, Team Vista™ typically provides enough irrigant solution and antimicrobial cleaner tablets for one operatory for one year.
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Why should offices use a manintenance and cleaning solution?
Maintenance waterline irrigant products can only provide limited antimicrobial function. Over time, bacteria can overwhelm the waterline environment and begin to create microbial deposits and biofilms. This is why most waterline maintenance product manufacturers recommend weekly water testing, which is both a hassle and costly. Further, some even direct the user to use cleaners when colony counts rise. An EPA registered antimicrobial "cleaner" should always be used in conjunction with an "irrigant" product to clean and control microbial contamination that will eventually colonize waterlines.
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In the Team Vista&trade instructions, it says "...If water remains in the bottle at the end of the day, the bottle may be left attached to system manifold and used the following day.” If the office would not use up the water on the 2nd day, should the staff replace the water and add new drops on the 3rd day?
The more often a bottle is removed from the manifold, the more likely outside contamination can enter the system. We encourage offices to leave the bottle in place for up to one week and indicate that a new bottle should be prepared at the beginning of each new work week.
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The CDC has established a standard of “less than 500 colony forming units per milliliter for dental unit waterlines." Should offices be conducting a routing test of this?
We recommend that an office do periodic and random testing on a regular basis - at least quarterly. Test results will vary greatly based on the water quality used, the general maintenance performed, the age of the dental delivery system, if quick disconnects are used, etc. There are several in-office test methods available. One is the HPC Sampler by Millipore. They sell these kits to dentists directly. The cost is about +/-$90 for a box of 25. Dentists can see or order them at www.millipore.com or by calling 1-800-Millipore. Pall Corporation also makes a product call Aqua-Safe that looks much like a petri dish. This product is sold through dealers like Schein.
In summary, we've found that most offices get by with the daily use of VistaClean&trade followed by monthly use of VistaTab&trade. However, they must have performed the "Initial Cleaning" using 2 tabs twice and be diligent with system care. Again, every system is different and results will vary.
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What is biofilm?
Biofilms are aggregates of microbes with a distinct architecture. A biofilm is like a tiny city in which microbial cells, each only a micrometer or two long, form towers that can be hundreds of micrometers high. The "streets" between the towers are really fluid-filled channels that bring in nutrients, oxygen and other necessities for live biofilm communities. Biofilms form on the surface dental waterlines, contact lenses, pacemakers, heart valve replacements, artificial joints and other surgical implants. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that over 65% of hospital-acquired infections are caused by biofilms. Microorganisms growing in a biofilm are highly resistant to antibiotics and cleaners, up to 1,000 times more resistant than the same bacteria not growing in a biofilm.
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Why are biofilms important and what issues do they cause?
Biofilms are microscopic communities that consist primarily of naturally occurring water bacteria and fungi. They form thin layers on virtually all surfaces, including dental water delivery systems. These organisms accumulate inside the thin tubes used to deliver water in dental treatment and grow into large populations. Water flowing from the dental waterline tubing into a patient's mouth can have high colony counts of these organisms. Exposure to these microbes does not mean that an individual will get an infection or a disease. However, if a person's immune system is compromised for any reason including age, smoking, heavy drinking, being a transplant or cancer patient or because of HIV infection, he or she may have more difficulty fighting off the invading germs. This is why the CDC has set dental water quality standards of no greater than 500 colony forming units of microbial contamination in water used for patient care in order to help protect patients and dental staff.
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Why do you need to purge dental waterlines?
If dental waterlines are not maintained on a regular basis, bacteria and biofilms will develop on the inner surfaces of the tubing, blocks and other system components. They can plug lines, cause corrosion and create a potential health hazard for both patients and dental staff. Using a proper irrigant like VistaClean&trade and “purging” the lines on a regular basis with an approved antimicrobial cleaner like VistaTab&trade will provide improved water quality while helping to protect patients, staff and equipment.
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What does the CDC recommend for dental waterline treatment?
The CDC does not recommend any specific brand or type of product but suggests that dental waterlines should be cleaned and tested on a regular basis to insure they are as clean as possible. The CDC has established a standard of less than 500 colony forming units per milliliter for dental unit waterlines.
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Why does VistaClean&trade have FDA approval and VistaTab&trade have EPA registration?
Products used in or on a human (VistaClean&trade) are regulated by the FDA. Products used to kill or control a pest (bacteria in this case) on a surface (VistaTab&trade) are regulated by the EPA. Both products “clean” using different modalities.
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Are VistaClean&trade and VistaTab&trade compatible with all materials (i.e., water bottles, water lines, all chairs, tubing, etc.)?
Yes. Both products are non-corrosive and have been shown to be compatible with all standard dental unit equipment or accessories.
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What are the effects of mixing with medicaments?
VistaClean&trade should only be used as an irrigant cleaner. VistaTab&trade should only be used as a periodic antimicrobial cleaner when patients are not present. Neither product should ever be mixed with medicaments or any other agent.
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What do I do if I get VistaTab&trade in my eye?
Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, then continue rinsing eye. Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice.
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What do I do if I swallow VistaTab&trade?
Call poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by the poison control center or doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Always have the product container or label with you when calling poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment. Please refer to the product instructions sheet that accompanies every box of product for more information.
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What does the CDC recommend for dental waterline treatment?
The CDC does not recommend any specific brand or type of product but suggests that dental waterlines should be cleaned and tested on a regular basis to insure they are as clean as possible. The CDC has established a standard of less than 500 colony forming units per milliliter for dental unit waterlines.
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Why does VistaClean™ have FDA approval and VistaTab™ have EPA registration?
Products used in or on a human (VistaClean™) are regulated by the FDA. Products used to kill or control a pest (bacteria in this case) on a surface (VistaTab™) are regulated by the EPA. Both products “clean” using different modalities.
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Are VistaClean™ and VistaTab™ compatible with all materials (i.e., water bottles, water lines, all chairs, tubing, etc.)?
Yes. Both products are non-corrosive and have been shown to be compatible with all standard dental unit equipment or accessories.
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What are the effects of mixing with medicaments?
VistaClean™ should only be used as an irrigant cleaner. VistaTab™ should only be used as a periodic antimicrobial cleaner when patients are not present. Neither product should ever be mixed with medicaments or any other agent.
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