ArticleInternational journal of dental hygiene2021
Ultrasonic scaling in COVID-era dentistry: A quantitative assessment of aerosol spread during simulated and clinical ultrasonic scaling procedures.
Article in International journal of dental hygiene, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Distribution characteristics of microbial aerosols and optimization of protective methods during ultrasonic scaling procedure.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Aerosol mitigation efficiency of high-volume suction systems during aerosol-generating dental procedures with patients.Annals of work exposures and health · 2026Article
- Bioaerosols and Airborne Transmission in the Dental Clinic.International dental journal · 2024Review
- Splatter generated by oral surgery irrigation and its implication for infection control.Clinical oral investigations · 2023Article
- Novel use of riboflavin as a fluorescent tracer in the dissemination of aerosol and splatter in an open operatory dental clinic.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2023Article
- The Oral Cavity Potentially Serving as a Reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 but Not Necessarily Facilitating the Spread of COVID-19 in Dental Practice.European journal of dentistry · 2023Article
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Perception of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children: A Comparison of a Sample from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.International journal of dentistry · 2023Article
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Treatment in Kuwait-A Retrospective Analysis from the Nation's Largest Hospital.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Particle Size, Mass Concentration, and Microbiota in Dental Aerosols.Journal of dental research · 2022Article
- Efficacy of dental evacuation systems for aerosol exposure mitigation in dental clinic settings.Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene · 2022Article
- COVID-19 Pandemic and Periodontal Practice: The Immunological, Clinical, and Economic Points of View.BioMed research international · 2022Review
- Ultrasonic scaling in COVID-era dentistry: A quantitative assessment of aerosol spread during simulated and clinical ultrasonic scaling procedures.International journal of dental hygiene · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveHealthcare agencies recommend limited use of aerosol-generating procedures to mitigate disease (COVID-19) transmission. However, total dispersion patterns of aerosols, particularly respirable droplets, via dental ultrasonic units is unclear. The purpose of this study was to characterize and map total spatter, droplet and aerosol dispersion during ultrasonic scaling in simulated and clinical contexts.
methodsUltrasonic scaling was performed on dental simulation units using methylene blue dye-stained water. All resultant stain profiles were photoanalysed to calculate droplet size and travel distance/direction. Airborne particle concentrations were also documented 0-1.2 m (0-4ft.) and 1.2-2.4 m (4-8ft.) from patients during in vivo ultrasonic scaling with a saliva ejector.
resultsStain profiles showed droplets between 25 and 50µm in diameter were most common, with smaller droplets closer to the mouth. In-vivo particle concentrations were uniformly low. The smallest (<1 µm, PM1) and largest (>10 µm, PM10+) particles were most common, especially within 1.2 m (4ft.) of the patient. Respirable particles (PM2.5) were uncommon.
conclusionsTests showed the highest concentration of small droplets in zones nearest the patient. While uncommon, particles were detected up to 2.4 m (8ft.) away. Furthermore, observed particle sizes were consistent with those that can carry infectious agents. Efforts to mitigate the spread of inhalable aerosols should emphasize proximate regions nearest the procedure, including personal protective equipment and the use of evacuation devices.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.