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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Hayley Llandro, James AllisonORCiD, Dr Charlotte Currie, David Edwards, Charlotte Bowes, Professor Justin DurhamORCiD, Professor Nicholas JakubovicsORCiD, Dr Nadia Rostami, Dr Richard HollidayORCiD
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Nature Publishing Group, 2021.
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Introduction: Dental procedures produce splatter and aerosol which have potential to spreadpathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Mixed evidence exists on the aerosol generating potentialof orthodontic procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate splatter and/or settled aerosolcontamination during orthodontic debonding.Material and Methods: Fluorescein dye was introduced into the oral cavity of a mannequin.Orthodontic debonding was undertaken with surrounding samples collected. Compositebonding cement was removed using a speed-increasing handpiece with dental suction. Apositive control condition included a water-cooled, high-speed air-turbine crown preparation.Samples were analysed using digital image analysis and spectrofluorometric analysis.Results: Contamination across the 8-metre experimental rig was 3% of the positive controlon spectrofluorometric analysis and 0% on image analysis. Contamination of the operator,assistant, and mannequin, was 8%, 25%, and 28% of the positive control, respectively.Discussion: Splatter and settled aerosol from orthodontic debonding is distributed mainlywithin the immediate locality of the mannequin. Widespread contamination was not observed.Conclusions: Orthodontic debonding is unlikely to produce widespread contamination viasplatter and settled aerosol, but localised contamination is likely. This highlights theimportance of personal protective equipment for the operator, assistant, and patient. Furtherwork is required to examine suspended aerosol.
Author(s): Llandro H, Allison JR, Currie CC, Edwards DC, Bowes C, Durham J, Jakubovics N, Rostami N, Holliday R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Dental Journal
Year: 2021
Issue: ePub ahead of Print
Online publication date: 08/01/2021
Acceptance date: 16/11/2020
Date deposited: 25/11/2020
ISSN (print): 0007-0610
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5373
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2503-9
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-2503-9
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