30 August 2021

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How to reduce aerosol spread during COVID-19 outbreak: a technical note

Author: Berton Federico

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The aim is to reduce the aerosol spread during dental treatments. The system is made of an already existing structure: a dirty towel basket. The structure has to be put directly above patient’s head. A transparent cellophane has to cover the structure, to provide a laboratory hood-like structure. The efficacy of the “dental-hood” was tested with a semi-quantitative colorimetric assay. A room dedicated for a dental unit was covered by absorbent paper. An air-polishing system and a staining powder served for the purpose. Standardized photographs were acquired one hour after dental treatment with and without dental-hood. The treatment without the dental-hood produced staining until two meters from the dental chair, with a contamination of the floor and the furnishings sensibly higher compared with the dental-hood. 

According to the critical situation we are living, the dental-hood represents a simple, inexpensive and effective way to reduce aerosol spread during dental treatments.