Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): James AllisonORCiD, Dr Charlotte CurrieORCiD, David Edwards, Charlotte Bowes, Jamie Coulter, Ekaterina Kozhevnikova, Professor Justin DurhamORCiD, Dr Christopher NileORCiD, Professor Nicholas JakubovicsORCiD, Dr Nadia Rostami, Dr Richard HollidayORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Background: Dental procedures often produce aerosol and splatter which have the potential to transmit pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. The existing literature is limited. Objective(s): To develop a robust, reliable and valid methodology to evaluate distribution and persistence of dental aerosol and splatter, including the evaluation of clinical procedures. Methods: Fluorescein was introduced into the irrigation reservoirs of a high-speed air-turbine, ultrasonic scaler and 3-in-1 spray, and procedures were performed on a mannequin in triplicate. Filter papers were placed in the immediate environment. The impact of dental suction and assistant presence were also evaluated. Samples were analysed using photographic image analysis, and spectrofluorometric analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Pearson's correlation for comparison of analytic methods. Results: All procedures were aerosol and splatter generating. Contamination was highest closest to the source, remaining high to 1-1.5 m. Contamination was detectable at the maximum distance measured (4 m) for high-speed air-turbine with maximum relative fluorescence units (RFU) being: 46,091 at 0.5 m, 3,541 at 1.0 m, and 1,695 at 4 m. There was uneven spatial distribution with highest levels of contamination opposite the operator. Very low levels of contamination (≤0.1% of original) were detected at 30 and 60 minutes post procedure. Suction reduced contamination by 67-75% at 0.5-1.5 m. Mannequin and operator were heavily contaminated. The two analytic methods showed good correlation (r=0.930, n=244, p<0.001). Conclusion: Dental procedures have potential to deposit aerosol and splatter at some distance from the source, being effectively cleared by 30 minutes in our setting.
Author(s): Allison JR, Currie CC, Edwards DC, Bowes C, Coulter J, Pickering K, Kozhevnikova E, Durham J, Nile CJ, Jakubovics N, Rostami N, Holliday R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
Year: 2021
Volume: 48
Issue: 1
Pages: 61-72
Print publication date: 23/12/2020
Online publication date: 23/09/2020
Acceptance date: 10/09/2020
Date deposited: 16/10/2020
ISSN (print): 0305-182X
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2842
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13098
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13098
PubMed id: 32966633
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
