In the January 2011 issue of Dental Economics, an article titled "The Air Tonight" discusses the harmful effects of low-quality dental office air and solutions to improve indoor air quality. Since then, many new discoveries and new ideas have followed on the importance of sanitizing and cleaning dental office air as part of the infection control regime. This article will discuss these latest developments.
A 2015 article in Business Insider noted that the jobs most harmful to health are dental workers, which include dentists, hygienists and dental technicians. The findings are based on analysis from the Occupational Information Network, a U.S. Department of Labor database that counts 974 occupations and 125 million employees. The dental industry ranks first based on the number of pollutants and disease pathogens found in the air of dental offices.
indoor air pollution sources
In dental offices and dental laboratories, sources of indoor air pollution include the following:
Bioaerosols: Dental instruments produce harmful bioaerosols, which contain microorganisms in saliva, blood, and subgingival fluid. The dispersion of these tiny droplets can be suspended in the air for up to 6 hours. A poisonous cloud spread from the ground to a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters).
Sick patients: Sick patients can spread infectious diseases throughout the office. The tiny droplets of water exhaled by a patient can extend up to 160 feet (4.8 meters) from the patient's mouth and travel up to 10 storeys through the building's central air conditioning system.
Chemicals: There are many compounds in the air in dental offices. For example, compounds from chemical disinfectants can affect workers who are exposed to these contaminants on a daily basis. During the removal of amalgam fillings, mercury vapor is dispersed in the air. In the lab, chemicals are a bigger problem. Metal casting and porcelain can release dangerous airborne gases and vapors. In the fabrication of crowns, bridges and restorations, airborne contaminants come from ferrous alloys such as cobalt chromium molybdenum
Gold, magnesium aluminum alloy. Probably the most dangerous of these is the methyl methacrylate monomer, which is used to generate the polymer PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). The compound is used to make dentures and other oral restorations, as well as filters and cements.
Dust: These particles come from many sources, the most well known being carpet. Dust is an even bigger problem in the dental laboratory, as the grinding of materials creates a large amount of fine white dust that is airborne.
Inadequate HVAC systems and personal protective features
Dental clinic workers may think they are protected from airborne contaminants and pathogens because they are protected by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Dr. Feuerstein revealed the opposite in his previously mentioned article. "The air conditioning system does a great job of circulating the air. Bacteria, viruses and all sorts of airborne stuff are blowing around the office," he said.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is also insufficient. The FDA does not conduct or support surgical mask testing.
In 2016, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety stated:
*The filter material of the surgical mask will not block or filter out sub-micron particles.
*Surgical masks are not designed to eliminate air leaks around the edges.
Surgical masks do not protect the wearer from inhaling fine particles, which can be lost once they remove the mask and walk around the office.
Particles are airborne for long periods of time.
Air Purification Solutions
Below are the selection criteria to help determine an effective air purification solution
Filtration performance: Air purification systems are required to remove air pollutants generated in dental offices, including dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), electrogenic bacteria, bioaerosols, bacteria and odors. It also uses UV light to kill bacteria and viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states: "If portable devices are used, they should recirculate all air in the room through a medical-grade filter.
Airflow: The air-purification system's airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). in order to provide the required
To be effective, the air purification system needs to have a large enough airflow star (CFM) to "flip" (refresh) the indoor air at least once in 30 minutes.
Noise level: When air passes through the purification system, noise is generated. Too much noise can negatively affect people working nearby. This often results in the air cleaning system being shut down, reducing air flow and efficacy. A good air purification system should provide sufficient air flow capacity at a sound level of 50dB. For reference, the working sound of an ordinary dishwasher is 50dB, and the voice of ordinary people is 60dB.
Air Energizing: Some believe that energizing indoor air can help people maintain high levels of cognitive function. It is believed that suitable ozone plus ionizers can provide energy for indoor air. It is believed that breathing energetic air increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, which improves alertness, reduces drowsiness and increases mental energy.
Cost of use: Some equipment is cheap, but consumables are expensive. Some systems are more expensive to purchase, but have permanent components and inexpensive consumables, so they cost less over time.
