Aerosol concentrations and size distributions during clinical dental procedures

Background: Suspected aerosol-generating dental instruments may cause risks for operators by transmitting pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The aim of our study was to measure aerosol generation in various dental procedures in clinical settings.Methods: The study population comprised of 84 patients who underwent 253 different dental procedures measured with Optical Particle Sizer in a dental office setting. Aerosol particles from 0.3 to 10 mu m in diameter were measured. Dental procedures included oral examinations (N = 52), restorative procedures with air turbine handpiece (N = 8), high-speed (N = 6) and low-speed (N = 30) handpieces, ultrasonic scaling (N = 31), peri-odontal treatment using hand instruments (N = 60), endodontic treatment (N = 12), intraoral radiographs (N = 24), and dental local anesthesia (N = 31).Results: Air turbine handpieces significantly elevated <1 mu m particle median (p = 0.013) and maximum (p = 0.016) aerosol number concentrations as well as aerosol particle mass concentrations (p = 0.046 and p = 0.006) compared to the background aerosol levels preceding the operation. Low-speed dental handpieces elevated >5 mu m median (p = 0.023), maximum (p = 0.013) particle number concentrations,> 5 mu m particle mass concentrations (p = 0.021) and maximum total particle mass concentrations (p = 0.022). High-speed dental handpieces elevated aerosol concentration levels compared to the levels produced during oral examination.Conclusions: Air turbine handpieces produced the highest levels of <1 mu m aerosols and total particle number concentrations when compared to the other commonly used instruments. In addition, high-and low-speed dental handpieces and ultrasonic scalers elevated the aerosol concentration levels compared to the aerosol levels measured during oral examination. These aerosol-generating procedures, involving air turbine, high-and low -speed handpiece, and ultrasonic scaler, should be performed with caution.Clinical significance: Aerosol generating dental instruments, especially air turbine, should be used with adequate precautions (rubber dam, high-volume evacuation, FFP-respirators), because aerosols can cause a potential risk for operators and substitution of air turbine for high-speed dental handpiece in poor epidemic situations should be considered to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission.