Magda Mensi*, Silvia Marchetti, Luca Mantelli, Eleonora Scotti, Annamaria Sordillo, Stefano Calza and Niklaus P. Lang
Objectives: The purpose of present observational study was to evaluate the bacterial load in the air following various dental procedures.
Materials and methods: Air contamination following 7 dental procedures resulting in aerosols generation was assessed. The air volume was sampled by means of a wet cyclone collector for 10 minutes during 10 different sessions of each of the following dental procedures: a) air-polishing b) ultrasonic instrumentation c) manual instrumentation d) rubber cup e) cavity preparation with the 1:5 red contra-angle f) cavity preparation with turbine and Low Volume Evacuator (LVE) g) cavity preparation with turbine and High Volume Evacuator (HVE). Baseline air samples were analysed as well. Contamination of the sampled solution was determined using ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate) quantification of the viable bacterial count.
Results: By far the highest increase in air contamination was observed after the use of turbine with LVE. The use of turbine with HVE and the use of the red hand-piece both resulted in elevated bacterial counts, while the application of air polishing, ultrasonic instrumentation, hand instrumentation and rubber cups did not result in higher bacterial count than baseline.
Conclusion: Routine professional oral hygiene procedures do not increase the air contamination produced by aerosols. However, cavity excavation creates significantly higher bacterial count in the air. The highest contamination was seen after the use of turbine with LVE.
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