A member asked:

At the dentist they used a water pick to clean my teeth and water was spraying over my nose occasionally. can you get naegleria fowleri from this?

7 doctors weighed in across 4 answers

Cavitron usage: The equipment you describe sounds like a cavitron or prophyjet, which is used as an adjunct to clean teeth. The water in the unit is self contained and is normally distilled water, that is changed either daily or more than once per day. I have never experienced any patient having a bacterial infection from the device. Usually, this is done as a supplement to hand scaling.

Answered 4/23/2015

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Dr. Paul Grin answered

Specializes in Pain Management

Possible, not likely: Naegleria Fowleri infections may occur when contaminated water from other sources (tap water, dental unit, swimming pool, etc) enters the nose.

Answered 4/23/2015

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Unlikely: Especially since there have been zero case-reports of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in the state of New York between 1962 to 2016. REF: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/state-map.html

Answered 11/28/2017

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To my knowledge, there is no reported case ever of a dental office procedure causing an amoebic infection.

Answered 3/5/2023

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Related Questions

A member asked:

I got tap water in my nose. Can I get Naegleria Fowleri from this?

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers