Dental hygiene - Aerosol reduction in dental practices
Dentists and dental assistants have an increased risk of getting infected by patients during their daily work, which is especially critical in times of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Causes for infections are manifold but within the dental practice Aerosol, generated by all types of rotating instruments, scalers and powder-water jet devices, is a topic of increasing concern.
The following recommendations are a compilation of studies, guidelines, practical experience and internal NATUS tests to reduce the amount of generated aerosol and to increase the protection of dentists, assistants as well as patients.
1. Aerosol (
1.1 Water cooling instead of spray with air and water can reduce aerosols
1.2. More spray ports reduce creation of aerosols
1.3. The smaller the burr diameter, the smaller the circumferential speed which splatters the coolant water.
1.4. The more precise the spray is the less aerosols are produced. Worn out tools increase the duration of work and the absolute number of aerosols.
1.5. Smaller area with aerosols, due to lower centrifugal force by slower speed and lower vibration energy.
1.6. The shorter the treatment, the fewer aerosols are produced.
1.7. Manual Instruments reduce the number of aerosols produced as they don't need spray cooling.
1.8. Air only / water only options of multi-functional syringe are not producing Aerosol.
Except for the above points, we need take an extraoral or aerosol suction machine into account
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