REDUCTION OF AEROSOLS PRODUCED BY ULTRASONIC SCALERS

THERE IS CONCERN WITH DECREASED air quality and potential aerosol cont amination in the dental operatory. This problem has been addressed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends that all sources of blood-contaminated splatter and aerosols be minimized. One of the major sources of potential aerosol contamination in the den tal setting is the ultrasonic scaler. This study looks at the use of a high volume evacuator attachment for the ultrasonic scaler handpiece. Artificial teeth were mock-scaled for 1 minute with and without the e vacuator attachment. The mock scaling was performed within a plastic e nclosure that had a 1 cm grid laid out on 4 sides. Scaling was perform ed 10 times each by 2 operators. An erythrosin solution was used for t he ultrasonic scaler coolant with a coolant volume of 17.5 ml/min. The number of squares containing a red erythrosin spot were counted and c onsidered to represent aerosol contamination. The high volume evacuato r attachment produced a 93% reduction in the number of contaminated sq uares (chi squared significant at P < 0.05). There was no increase in heat transfer to a tooth analogue when the high volume evacuator attac hment was used with the ultrasonic scaler as compared to the scaler wi thout the evacuator attachment. It is felt that the high volume evacua tor attachment is capable of significantly reducing the amount of aero sol contamination produced within the test system without increased he at transfer to the tooth.