Resumen

GONZALEZ, Ma. Elena et al. Calidad bacteriológica del agua utilizada en clínicas odontológicas. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2007, vol.45, n.1, pp.33-36. ISSN 0001-6365.

The bacteriological quality of the water of 8 dental clinics of FESI UNAM, was evaluated determining total and fecal coliforms, by means of the technique of membrane filter. They were made 2 to 4 weekly samplings, and in each clinic, were taken samples of the triple syringe and the flood glasses of 10 dental units, in addition water tap. 188 samples were taken and both determinations of coliforms were made to each sample, making a total of 376 analyses. From all the analyzed samples only 8 presented bacterial pollution; 7 of them, corresponded to the first sampling made in Acatlán clinic after a vacational period; the pollution was consequence of the prolonged water stagnation due to the clinical inactivity, which contributed to the presence of fecal and total coliforms. After vacations the following samplings were negatives. In Ecatepec clinic one sample which came from a dental unit that with a Flush system, also was positive for total coliforms. The dental clinics, annually give service of more than 30.000 patients of diverse ages and states of health, offering diverse types of dental treatments since extractions to some maxilofacial surgeries. It was conclude that in general, the bacteriological quality of the water used in the dental clinics is good, which is very important, because water makes directly contact with the mucous membrane of oral cavity, dental structures, blood and saliva of the patient, avoiding infectious processes that could put in risk their integral health.

Palabras clave : clínicas odontológicas; calidad bacteriológica del agua; coliformes fecales; coliformes totales.