DENTAL AEROSOL & SPLATTER- A SILENT HAZARD & IMPLICATION ON INFECTION CONTROL IN DENTISTRY
Gagan Raj*, Suma B. S. and Garima Mangal
ABSTRACT
Dentist, dental hygienist and oral health care workers practices in a highly contaminated environment which is the
human mouth where they are exposed to variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoan from many sources.
Various dental procedures can result in the formation of aerosol and splatter. Aerosols are combination of both
liquid and solid particles less than 50 micrometres in diameter whereas splatter was defined as airborne particle
which are larger than 50 micron in diameters. There is a long history of infections that have been transmitted by an
airborne route. Sources of dental aerosol produced during dental procedures are from the: Patient, Dental unit
waterlines (DUWL) and Instruments. Professional interest has developed concerning dentally produced aerosols
and the potential for disease transmission to clinicians and patients. Professional interest has developed concerning
dentally produced aerosols and the potential for disease transmission to clinicians and patients. It includes
screening of patients, Immunization of dental personnel, Personal hygiene and hand hygiene, Personal protective
equipments, Dental unit waterlines (DUWL), Sterilization and disinfection. Thus It is virtually impossible to
completely eliminate the risk posed by dental aerosols, minimizing the risk by adopting protective procedures
along with universal barrier techniques together with immunization protocol requires attention.
Keywords: Dental Aerosol and splatter; Dental unit water line; Personal protective equipment; Infection control.
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