Journal article
Comparison of aerosol mitigation strategies and aerosol persistence in dental environments
Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.43(12), pp.1779-1784
12/2022
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2022.26
PMCID: PMC10822722
PMID: 35440351
Abstract
To determine the impact of various aerosol mitigation interventions and to establish duration of aerosol persistence in a variety of dental clinic configurations.
We performed aerosol measurement studies in endodontic, orthodontic, periodontic, pediatric, and general dentistry clinics. We used an optical aerosol spectrometer and wearable particulate matter sensors to measure real-time aerosol concentration from the vantage point of the dentist during routine care in a variety of clinic configurations (eg, open bay, single room, partitioned operatories). We compared the impact of aerosol mitigation strategies (eg, ventilation and high-volume evacuation (HVE), and prevalence of particulate matter) in the dental clinic environment before, during, and after high-speed drilling, slow-speed drilling, and ultrasonic scaling procedures.
Conical and ISOVAC HVE were superior to standard-tip evacuation for aerosol-generating procedures. When aerosols were detected in the environment, they were rapidly dispersed within minutes of completing the aerosol-generating procedure. Few aerosols were detected in dental clinics, regardless of configuration, when conical and ISOVAC HVE were used.
Dentists should consider using conical or ISOVAC HVE rather than standard-tip evacuators to reduce aerosols generated during routine clinical practice. Furthermore, when such effective aerosol mitigation strategies are employed, dentists need not leave dental chairs fallow between patients because aerosols are rapidly dispersed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comparison of aerosol mitigation strategies and aerosol persistence in dental environments
- Creators
- Shruti Choudhary - Quality ResearchMichael J Durkin - Washington University in St. LouisDaniel C Stoeckel - Saint Louis UniversityHeidi M Steinkamp - Saint Louis UniversityMartin H Thornhill - University of SheffieldPeter B Lockhart - Carolinas Medical CenterHilary M Babcock - Washington University in St. LouisJennie H Kwon - Washington University in St. LouisStephen Y Liang - Washington University in St. LouisPratim Biswas - Quality Research
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.43(12), pp.1779-1784
- DOI
- 10.1017/ice.2022.26
- PMID
- 35440351
- PMCID
- PMC10822722
- NLM abbreviation
- Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
- ISSN
- 0899-823X
- eISSN
- 1559-6834
- Grant note
- U19 DE028717 / NIDCR NIH HHS K23 DE029514 / NIDCR NIH HHS UL1 TR002345 / NCATS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2022
- Academic Unit
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Record Identifier
- 9984367737802771
Metrics
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