Why Dental Offices Rely on Distilled Water for Patient Safety
Distilled Water in Modern Dentistry
If you’ve ever visited a dental office and noticed the water lines running to the dental chair, you might not have thought much about what type of water flows through them. But for dental professionals, water quality isn’t just a preference — it’s a patient safety requirement regulated by Health Canada and provincial dental associations.
Dental offices use distilled water in autoclaves (sterilization equipment), dental unit waterlines, ultrasonic cleaners, and steam-based sterilizers. The reason is straightforward: mineral-free water prevents scale buildup in expensive equipment and eliminates the risk of mineral or bacterial contamination during procedures.
Autoclaves and Sterilization
Autoclaves use pressurized steam to sterilize dental instruments between patients. If tap water or mineral-containing water is used, the dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals get deposited on the heating elements, chamber walls, and — most critically — on the instruments themselves. These mineral deposits can interfere with the sterilization process and shorten the lifespan of an autoclave that costs thousands of dollars to replace.
Distilled water, testing between 0 and 5 PPM total dissolved solids, leaves no residue. Instruments come out clean, the autoclave stays in optimal condition, and sterilization efficacy is maintained.
Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs)
The waterlines that deliver water to the handpiece, air/water syringe, and ultrasonic scaler are narrow tubes where biofilm can develop if water quality is poor. Using distilled water as the source significantly reduces the mineral content that biofilm organisms feed on, helping dental offices maintain waterline quality within the recommended CFU (colony-forming unit) thresholds.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Before instruments go into the autoclave, they’re often pre-cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. These machines use high-frequency sound waves to agitate the water and remove debris from instruments. Mineral-rich water reduces the effectiveness of the ultrasonic action and leaves deposits on instruments and inside the tank.
Puretap: Trusted by GTA Dental Practices
Puretap has been supplying distilled water to dental offices, medical clinics, and veterinary practices across the Greater Toronto Area for over 40 years. Our water is independently lab-tested to confirm purity levels between 0 and 5 PPM, with no fluoride or additives.
We offer convenient delivery options that work around your practice schedule. Our 18L (5 gallon) bottles are the most popular choice for dental offices — they fit standard water cooler dispensers and last most practices about a week. For larger clinics and hospitals, our 1000L tote fills provide bulk supply at a lower cost per litre.
We deliver throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Caledon, Etobicoke, and the GTA. Pickup is also available from our Mississauga location.
