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Evaluation of Aerosol and Splatter Production using Dental Handpieces and Ultrasonic Scalers during Dental Procedures: A Pilot Study

There have been many articles written about aerosols and splatter during dental procedures with the potential for disease transmission. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, aerosol production during dental procedures has been considered a potential disease transmission pathway. Since there is no documented cases of dental professionals acquiring SARS-Cov1 or COVID-19, we decided to see how much aerosol is produced by a Dental High speed drill and ultrasonic scaler. Also if the use of high volume suction can eliminate any aerosol transmission. A pilot study using Glo Germ in the water to evaluate under blacklight the aerosol pattern and spread produced by a high speed dental handpiece and an ultrasonic scaler was performed. The results found that high volume suction using an 8mm diameter suction tip eliminated aerosol spray spread with a high speed dental handpiece. Minimal aerosol spread was found with the use of a cavitron scaler.