Splatter generated by oral surgery irrigation and its implication for infection control.

Area of Science:

• Oral Surgery
• Infection Control
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Rotary instrumentation and irrigation in oral surgery generate aerosols and splatters.
• These airborne particles can potentially spread pathogens, necessitating an understanding of contamination patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate splatter contamination from rotary instrumentation and irrigation during simulated surgical extractions.
• To compare splatter generation between traditional assistant-based irrigation and self-irrigating drills.
• To compare splatter generation between saline and hydrogen peroxide irrigants.

Main Methods:

• Simulated surgical extractions were performed on manikins using typodont teeth.
• A fluorescein solution was used as a tracer in the irrigation system of high-speed drills.
• Filter papers collected splatter samples at predetermined locations for photographic image analysis.

Main Results:

• The patient's chest and the assistant's face shield exhibited the largest splatter areas.
• Hydrogen peroxide irrigant resulted in a larger splatter area compared to saline.
• No significant difference in splatter production was observed between assistant irrigation and self-irrigating drills.

Conclusions:

• Oral surgery drills with irrigation produce splatters that can spread airborne pathogens.
• Clinicians must identify and disinfect contaminated areas to prevent infection transmission.
• Alternative irrigants or irrigation methods did not effectively reduce splatter formation in this study.