EVALUATING SPATTER AND AEROSOL CONTAMINATION DURING OPENING OF ACCESS CAVITIES IN ENDODONTICS

Authors

  • Irene Pina-Vaz
  • Cidália Pina-Vaz
  • Manuel Fontes de Carvalho
  • Álvaro Azevedo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/aor.v4i2.23201

Keywords:

Access cavity, Aerosol contamination, Spatter.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to evaluate the distribution of bacterial aerosols generatedby high-speed dental hand pieces with water supplies during the opening of access cavities inEndodontics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The procedure was carried out in 20 humanpatients in three different groups: group A - with a rubber dam; group B - without a rubber damand without a mouth rinse; group C - without a rubber dam, but with a previous mouth rinse withchlorhexidine. Blood agar culture plates were placed at six predefined positions next to the patient,and at other two places away from the patient. Contamination by oral bacterial species was indicatedby the detection of alpha haemolytic streptococci colonies. RESULTS: There were significantstatistical differences between the number of cfus before and after the dental procedure in theplates next to the patient. Between the three groups, the differences were not statistically significant.We found contamination in the plates away from the patient, showing that bacterial aerosols willalso settle a long distance from the patient after the conclusion of the procedure. CONCLUSION:There is a dissemination of bacterial aerosols when high-speed dental equipment is used, evenwhen it is only used during the opening of access cavities. This presents a potential risk of diseasetransmission, so there is a need for barrier precautions.

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Published

2008-11-29

How to Cite

Pina-Vaz, I., Pina-Vaz, C., de Carvalho, M. F., & Azevedo, Álvaro. (2008). EVALUATING SPATTER AND AEROSOL CONTAMINATION DURING OPENING OF ACCESS CAVITIES IN ENDODONTICS. Archives of Oral Research, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.7213/aor.v4i2.23201

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Articles