Assessment of respirable aerosol concentrations using local ventilation controls in an open multi-chair dental clinic.

ABSTRACT: Dental procedures require patients to be unmasked throughout most of a dental visit, with some procedures generating both inhalable and respirable aerosols. Understanding aerosol generation and transport were important to developing protocols to protect both the patient and workers in dental environments early in the COVID pandemic. This study investigated the need, suitability, and effectiveness of using local exhaust ventilation units during patient procedures and examined the impact of patient density in a large, multi-chair dental clinic at an academic institution. Phase One measured respirable aerosol concentrations at the dental assistant's breathing zone and in neighboring unoccupied patient operatories. Results were compared during four dental procedures with three local ventilatio

SUBMITTER: D'Antonio N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11959533 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature