Real-time Monitoring of Aerosol Generating Dental Procedures

Area of Science:

• Dental aerosol research
• Infection control in dentistry
• Occupational health and safety

Background:

• Dental procedures generate aerosols, posing potential infection risks.
• Quantifying aerosol production is crucial for effective mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify aerosol concentrations during dental procedures.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different mitigation methods.

Main Methods:

• Aerosol concentrations measured using Optical Particle Sensor (OPS) and Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS).
• Procedures conducted on a manikin head in a partitioned enclosure.
• Four standardized dental procedures repeated with three mitigation measures.

Main Results:

• High-volume evacuation (HVE) and HVE plus local exhaust ventilation (LEV) eradicated aerosols.
• Drilling procedures generated significantly higher aerosols than background levels without mitigation.
• Ultrasonic scaling with mitigation did not produce detectable aerosols.
• LEV provided protection against brief aerosol bursts during drilling.

Conclusions:

• Correctly positioned HVE and LEV prevent airborne spread of dental aerosols.
• Enclosures effectively restrict aerosol spread outside the operating area.
• Mitigation strategies are vital for controlling inhalable particles during dental procedures.