title: Evaluation of the spatter-reduction effectiveness of two dry-field isolation techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors conducted a study to compare the effectiveness of two dry-field isolation techniques with that of a control technique (no isolation) in reducing spatter from a dental operative site.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors designed a benchtop experiment to evaluate spatter patterns after performing simulated occlusal surface preparations on three typodont teeth in a dental manikin. Fluorescein dye served as the marker to enable visualization of the spatter distribution. The authors compared the effectiveness of a nonisolated control consisting of high-volume evacuation (HVE) alone with that of two dry-field isolation techniques: a dental dam with HVE and the Isolite system (Isolite Systems, Santa Barbara, Calif).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors performed a two-way analysis of variance. Both the Isolite device and the dental dam with HVE exhibited a significant decrease in the number of contaminated squares (P < .001) compared with that for the nonisolated control. In addition, overall, the results showed no statistically significant difference between the Isolite system and the dental dam with HVE (P = .126).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed that use of a dental dam with HVE or the Isolite system significantly reduced spatter overall compared with use of HVE alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolation with a dental dam and HVE or with the Isolite system appears to aid in the reduction of spatter during operative dental procedures, potentially reducing exposure to oral pathogens.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA.
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Dahlke
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cottam
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Herring
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leavitt
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ditmyer
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D008348:Manikins; D003765:Models, Dental; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012399:Rotation; D016733:Rubber Dams; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019415:Torque; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014867:Water