Aerosol reduction during air polishing.
OBJECTIVE
Concern has been expressed about the obvious aerosol cloud that is generated during air polishing of teeth. These concerns have included infection control, potential systemic effects, and environmental surface contamination associated with the particles of sodium bicarbonate powder, water, and patient-generated material. This in vitro study evaluated an aerosol reduction device designed for use during air polishing.


METHODS
Eight artificial teeth on a Dentoform model were polished with and without the aerosol reduction device. The polishing was performed within a plastic enclosure that had a grid on the sides. The water supply for the air polisher contained a 1% fluorescein solution. The aerosol contamination was determined by counting the number of squares that showed fluorescent spots under an ultraviolet light.


RESULTS
The mean contamination without the aerosol reduction device was 175.59 cm2. The mean contamination with the aerosol reduction device was 4.37 cm2, a greater than 97% reduction in aerosol contamination.


CONCLUSIONS
The aerosol reduction device significantly decreased the contamination produced during air polishing.
Harrel
S K
SK
Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University System, Dallas, USA. skh1@airmail.net
Barnes
J B
JB
Rivera-Hidalgo
F
F
D000336:Aerosols; D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003264:Containment of Biohazards; D006801:Humans; D003765:Models, Dental; D011482:Protective Devices; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000336:Aerosols