Aerosols created by dental procedures in a primary care setting

The study was undertaken to record the amount of dental aerosol created using 3-in-1 syringe, air rotor, and ultrasonic scaler using high volume suction (HVS) in 5 primary care dental surgeries. The time for the aerosol to dissipate following completion of the procedure was also recorded. The amount of aerosol created above the background level for the surgery corresponding to the operating positions of the nurse, dentist, and patient was recorded using particle meters measuring the number of 2.5micron (PM2.5) and 10micron (PM10) particles respectively. The procedures were recorded in triplicate for each surgery and average change calculated for each procedure, lasting 90 seconds. PM2.5 remained at or very near background readings during all procedures, whereas PM10 increased with use of the air rotor and to a much lower extent with both 3-in-1, and ultrasonic scaler. The means time to return to background reading level was 2.5 minutes. It was concluded that PM2.5 levels did not rise and although PM10 increased for all procedures the increase was low and with a return to background readings within 2m:50s (95% CI: 2:34 to 3:37) of completing the procedures that a minimum fallow period of 5minutes would allow be more than ample to be safe.