During a disease outbreak, there are several risks dentists encounter. One serious risk is contracting an illness from aerosol particles created during a procedure. Aerosols are splatters, mists, or droplets in the air, and can include saliva, blood, and plaque. Three main sources of airborne contamination in dental offices are dental instrumentation, saliva and respiratory sources, and the operation site. Aerosol particles can be generated with:
To make dental spaces safer, it is important to create a negative pressure room for aerosol generating procedures. When creating a negative pressure space, key parameters to monitor include air changes per hour (ACH) and differential pressure.
A portable unit can pull a negative pressure and exhaust the contaminated air. A portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help reduce particle counts in the air without relying entirely on the HVAC system. Another option to consider is ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to sterilize the air.
Setra's Negative Pressure Air Quality Module can be used to pull a room not designed as an isolation room negative. It provides safe, reliable, and portable negative pressurization for dental offices and other healthcare spaces. A HEPA filter and UVC light sterilize the air to create the safest possible exhaust, which is then vented out of the room to minimize exposure to airborne particles.