title: Aerosol, a health hazard during ultrasonic scaling: A clinico-microbiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasonic scaling is a routinely used treatment to remove plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces. These scalers use water as a coolant which is splattered during the vibration of the tip. The splatter when mixed with saliva and plaque of the patients causes the aerosol highly infectious and acts as a major risk factor for transmission of the disease. In spite of necessary protection, sometimes, the operator might get infected because of the infectious nature of the splatter.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the aerosol contamination produced during ultrasonic scaling by the help of microbiological analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinico-microbiological study consisted of twenty patients. Two agar plates were used for each patient; the first was kept at the center of the operatory room 20 min before the treatment while the second agar plate was kept 40 cm away from the patient's chest during the treatment. Both the agar plates were sent for microbiological analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The statistical analysis was done with the help of STATA 11.0 (StataCorp. 2013. Stata Statistical Software, Release 13. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP, 4905 Lakeway Drive College Station, Texas, USA). Statistical software was used for data analysis and the P < 0.001 was considered to be statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results for bacterial count were highly significant when compared before and during the treatment. The Gram staining showed the presence of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species in high numbers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aerosols and splatters produced during dental procedures have the potential to spread infection to dental personnel. Therefore, proper precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of infection to the operator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Akanksha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Shiva Manjunath
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Hirak S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Arijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D058491:Bacterial Load; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy*; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols