Frequently Asked Questions

An air water syringe tip is a disposable or reusable attachment used with the air water syringe in dentistry. It is designed to deliver precise streams of air and water to the oral cavity during dental procedures. Air water syringe tips have separate channels for air and water, which merge at the tip's end to create a combined spray. These tips play a vital role in dental procedures by facilitating the delivery of air and water for cleaning, cooling, and rinsing purposes. Air water syringe tips are available in plastic (single- use) or metal (reusable) options.

Metal air water syringe tips are reusable. After each patient the tip is removed from the air water syringe and put through a sterilization process, ultrasonic bath and heat-sterilization. Unfortunately, the sterilization process has been found to be ineffective by a multitude of scientific studies. These studies highlight the channels inside of a metal tip, called micro-lumens, which have diameters smaller than a hypodermic needle. Each time a metal tip is put through the sterilization cycle, these micro-lumens corrode after being exposed to the extreme heat within an autoclave. The corrosion leads to fissures developing inside the metal tips. These fissures subsequently get filled with biofilm, bacteria, tissue, blood, and saliva. These materials are then baked into the tip, clogging the micro-lumens. Once the micro-lumens get clogged, there is no way for steam to penetrate all the way through the tip, leaving areas unsterilized. The tip, still contaminated, is then used on the next patient. If you ask any dental healthcare professional that uses metal tips, they will tell you that metal tips do clog. It is easily noticed as the spray patterns change. The water shoots off at an angle or the pressure decreases. These examples clearly show that what they are using has not been effectively sterilized. From an infection control standpoint, if a device is difficult to clean, it should be replaced with a single-use alternative.

Metal air water syringes are impossible to clean. The channels inside of metal tips, called micro-lumens, have a diameter smaller than a hypodermic needle. These micro-lumens begin to break down after the first use. Blood, tissue, and saliva are sucked back into these tips and then baked into the micro-lumens during the autoclave process. Any dentist you talk to that uses metal tips can confirm the effects of the clogging caused by baked in debris. They will explain that spray patterns will become inconsistent, air and water pressure will begin to decrease and tips will end up getting thrown away. Once a metal air water syringe tip begins to clog, it makes it impossible for steam to penetrate all the way through the tip during the autoclave process. The sterilization process is ineffective and increases risks of cross-contamination. As stated by the CDC, if a device is difficult to clean, a single-use alternative should be used.

Metal air water syringe tips were the standard tip prior to the invention of single-use, disposable air water syringe tips. As science improved, research studies found that metal air water syringe tips were impossible to clean. The micro-lumens within the metal tips were impossible to visually inspect while the sterilization process was ineffective. Metal air water syringe tips clog making it impossible for steam to penetrate all the way through the tip, leaving sections of the tip with live active bacteria. With this new-found knowledge, the single-use, disposable air water syringe tip was born. Multiple leading health authorities state that if a device is difficult to clean, a single-use alternative should be used. As a more hygienic alternative, disposable air water syringe tips are used on one patient and discarded. This eliminates the high-risk of cross- contamination that metal air water syringe tips pose. From an infection control standpoint, disposable air water syringe tips are more safe than standard metal tips. An added benefit for disposable air water syringe tips is that every tip works like it is brand new. No more clogged tips or decreased pressure.

Yes, disposable air-water syringe tips are generally considered better for patient safety compared to reusable metal tips. Disposable air-water syringe tips are designed for single-use, meaning they are discarded after each patient encounter. This significantly reduces the risk of cross-contamination between patients compared to reusable metal tips, which require thorough sterilization between uses. Disposable tips are also convenient and easy to use. They eliminate the need for time-consuming sterilization procedures and minimize the risk of errors or oversights in the sterilization process, ensuring consistent infection control practices. They are reliable and consistent, as they are designed to maintain their integrity throughout a single use. Reusable metal tips may degrade over time, potentially compromising their performance and effectiveness. Many infection control guidelines and regulations recommend the use of disposable items, including air water syringe tips, to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Using disposable tips help dental offices comply with these guidelines and maintain high standards of patient safety and infection control.