Patent ID: 6019905
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
In a method for providing a sanitized aqueous medium for a water delivery system to a dental patient, the steps comprising:(a) providing a dental unit for use in dental treatment;(b) delivering a stream of water to said dental unit from a source of potable water containing hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite and free chlorine in an amount of about 0.1 ppm or more;(c) providing a physiologically safe acidifier selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids, organic acids, and acid esters; and(d) incorporating said acidifier into the water delivered to said water delivery system in an amount to reduce the pH of the water delivered to the water delivery system to a value of about 3.2 or less to provide a substantially enhanced hypochlorous acid content sufficient to elixiate the viability of a mature biofilm produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas euroginosa.