High volume suction helps control COVID-19 viral contamination via aerosol in dentistry

Written By : Dr. Nandita Mohan |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2021-05-25T09:00:43+05:30 | Updated On 25 May 2021 1:58 PM IST

Researchers from a recent study have found out that suction with an aerosol cannula is very important to prevent COVID-19 viral contamination via aerosol, as published in the International Dental Journal.

H Akin and colleagues from the Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey carried out this study with the objective to investigate the presence of SARS CoV-2 in aerosol and COVID-19 contamination distance during ultrasonic scaling and tooth preparation.

The first hypothesis of the study was that SARS CoV-2 would be detected in aerosol during ultrasonic scaling and tooth preparation with medium-volume suction in the clinical environment. The second hypothesis of the study was that there is no difference in aerosol contamination between medium- and high-volume suctions.

Twenty-four patients with COVID-19 were included in this study. Removal of supragingival plaque with ultrasonic instruments for 10 min and high-speed air-turbine using for the simulation of cutting the maxillary right canine tooth with a round diamond bur for 5 min were performed.

Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: In Group A, medium-volume suction was used during treatment. In Group B, high-volume suction with an aerosol cannula was added to medium-volume suction.

Prior to treatment, 5 glass petri dishes containing viral transport medium were placed in the operating room. After treatment, petri dishes were immediately delivered to a microbiology laboratory for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.

The interesting findings noted by the authors were that the RT-PCR test results were negative for all specimens in Group B. However, 5 positive test results for COVID-19 were detected in Group A specimens.

Hence, the authors concluded that "Suction with an aerosol cannula is very important to prevent COVID-19 viral contamination via aerosol. In addition, a high-volume suction capacity (air volume) of 150 mmHg or 325 l/min is sufficient for elimination of viral contamination. Thus, high-volume suction should be used during dental treatments in COVID-19 patients."

High volume suctionaerosolscovid-19 infectionviral contaminationInternational Dental Journal

Source : International Dental Journal

Dr. Nandita Mohan

BDS, MDS( Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry)

Dr. Nandita Mohan is a practicing pediatric dentist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Along with this, she is equally interested in keeping herself up to date about the latest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry which is the driving force for her to be in association with Medical Dialogues. She also has her name attached with many publications; both national and international. She has pursued her BDS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and later went to enter her dream specialty (MDS) in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences. Through all the years of experience, her core interest in learning something new has never stopped. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751