SPRAY emissions from dental procedures are a major challenge in pandemic times.
The potential risk that SARS-CoV-2 will spread because of spray emissions challenged care providers and policymakers alike.
By using high-speed imaging and laser light-sheet illumination, new technology provides a way of coping with the issue.
Procedural sprays using these tools are effective, according to a new study published in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR).
The study, “Mechanisms of atomization from rotary dental instruments and its mitigation,” found there are multiple mechanisms for atomization of fluids from rotatory instruments and that parameters can be controlled to modify key spray characteristics during the current crisis.
The procedural sprays were studied with variables including rotation speed, burr-to-tooth contact, and coolant pre-misting.
Elimination of pre-misting (mixing of coolant water and air before burr contact) and use of relatively low rotation speeds resulted in a significant reduction in small droplets.
Cutting efficiency was reduced, but sufficient coolant effectiveness appeared to be maintained.
“This research demonstrates that spray from dental instruments can be controlled without losing the ability to carry out dental treatment,” said JDR editor-in-chief Nicholas Jakubovics. “Being able to modify the spray creates a safer experience for patients and oral health care providers during this current pandemic.”
The Journal of Dental Research is a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the dissemination of new knowledge in all sciences relevant to dentistry and the oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease.
It is published by the International Association for Dental Research, a nonprofit organization with over 10,000 individual members worldwide.
Its mission is to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being worldwide./PN
