(An appreciative nod to Orleans for their classic, lovably schmaltzy hit!)
Each quarter, Design Ergonomics assigns a task to each employee. We call it a “Rock”. Your Rock is not like any other task. It can be improving a process, streamlining a system, building a knowledge base on an important topic, etc. It’s a really helpful way to keep continuous improvement front and center in your organization. Knowledge is king, right? (See “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” by Verne Harnish for more info.) My Rock for Q2 is water.
How many jugs of distilled water do you need each month? If you’re following manufacturer guidelines, it takes approximately 4 gallons of distilled water each week to maintain a Midmark M11. That’s 16 gallons a month at approximately $1.00/jug or $16.oo multiplied by 12 is $192 a year. Let’s not forget about the fuel to run to the store and go get. The time to go get. What about all that weight? Let’s not forget they have no stackability. If your plan is to make monthly stops, will you store 16 gallons of water in your practice? A case of six is about 18"x12"x12", so three cases is over 4.5 cubic feet of space that could be utilized for something else - like a more centralized area for storing clinical supplies. I would hate to run to the closet down the hall for suction tips because there are so many jugs of distilled water taking up prime real estate.
What if you made distilled water? I probably work with 40 different practices each year. I can count on one hand how many distillers I’ve seen and cannot figure out why. Maybe some of you went out and purchased one of those cheap, plastic models that produced a gallon of distilled water in 8 hours in the past. It lasted a year or two and thought, “no way, not ever again.”
Distilled water, at least in North America, is the only water used in an autoclave. Some dental equipment manufacturers “require” distilled water in their dental units as well but, without some kind of waterline treatment (there are so many manufacturers out there) any water used in your dental delivery unit is at risk of biofilm growth. Please check with your dental equipment manufacturer for specific guidelines. The simple math used in this case is ONLY talking autoclaves.
Without getting too complicated or delivering too much information in this short blog, let’s talk about efficiency - because I'm all about dental practice efficiency! You can continue carrying jugs in from the grocery store, but compare the data. On average, a dentist purchases 16 gallons of distilled water each month with an average yearly cost of roughly $200/year for materials. The time, energy and fuel costs vary, but I’m going to say that it costs just as much to go get your distilled water making the annual cost of bringing in those big jugs at $400 - or $2000 in five years. ( If you think Amazon is going to save the day, check again. For the convenience of delivering gallons of distilled water into your practice from Amazon, it might cost you ten times the amount than that of grabbing jugs at the store). Perhaps this will improve in the next ten years but for the past 30 years, it’s been the same. The improvements have come in onsite distillation. For just under $2000, you could bring a mack-daddy distiller into your practice, tie it into your waterline and produce about 7 gallons of distilled water every day that comes with a 5-15 year warranty depending on the manufacturer. Check out www.dentalpurity.com to find out more.
So whether you’re making moonshine or maintaining your autoclave, at home distillers provide the most efficient solution to distilled water needs. Hey, guess what? The CDC and ADA have agreed on something - dental practice Water Quality Goals. Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) testing provides a general indication of the degree to which a water system has been regularly maintained. EPA standards for HPC in public water/dental practice water is <500 CFU/mL (CFU= Colony forming unit). Although there is no requirement, the water in your dental practice should be tested regularly. Let quarterly waterline tests be your practice guideline. If you’re using distilled water in a self-contained dental delivery unit, think about what’s practical. You don’t have to do the math, I’ve done it for you. It’s a no brainer!
Here is my Bob Barker closer: Help control the biofilm population, have your dental practice water tested regularly.
Topics: