The bio-aerosol reducing procedures used in dentistry not that effective: Study

Bio-aerosols, are routinely generated and airborne in clinical dentistry due to the operative instrumentation within an oral environment bathed in salivary organisms. The sources of bio-aerosols in dental clinics were: ultrasonic scalers, high-speed handpieces, air turbines, three in one syringes, and air-water syringes. Studies conducted in hospitals reported 30 different bio-aerosol generating sources. Humans produced aerosols by coughing and sneezing.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission is responsible for the current pandemic that appears through airborne aerosols and droplets, thus, there has been an intense focus on such aerosol-generating procedures, and their reduction.

Samaranayake L et. al conducted a study aimed to evaluate the available data on three major measures: rubber dam application, pre-procedural oral rinse, and high-volume evacuators (HVE) aimed at reducing bio-aerosols.

The researchers searched PubMed via Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCO host, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases between 01 January 1985 and 30 April 2020.

The results of the study are as follows:

· A total of 156 records in English literature were identified, and 17 clinical studies with 724 patients were included in the final analysis.

· Eligible articles revealed the inadequacy of three principal approaches used in contemporary dental practice to minimize such bio-aerosols, rubber dam application, pre-procedural oral rinses, and HVE.

· The latter is an extremely effective method to reduce bio-aerosols in dentistry, although no single method can provide blanket cover.

Thus, the researchers concluded that the present systematic review indicates that employing combination strategies of rubber dam, with a pre-procedural antimicrobial oral rinse, and HVE may contain bio-aerosols during operative procedures

Reference:

The efficacy of bio-aerosol reducing procedures used in dentistry: a systematic review by Samaranayake L et. al published in the Acta Odontologica Scandinavica.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00016357.2020.1839673