The new CDC surgical water recommendations: why they should be implemented and what they require

On May 28, 1993, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its new Recommended Infection-Control Practices for Dentistry, 1993. The American Dental Association adopted these recommendations in August of 1995. Although most of these recommendations are commonly practiced in most dental offices, one aspect has changed dramatically. In the current recommendations, the CDC formally states that sterile saline or sterile water should be used during dental surgical procedures. This article will discuss why these new water recommendations should be implemented and how they complement previously issued CDC recommendations.