Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36068221›Full record

ArticleBDJ open2022

Aerosol and splatter generation with rotary handpieces used in restorative and orthodontic dentistry: a systematic review.

Waraf Al-Yaseen, Rhiannon Jones, Scott McGregor, William Wade, Jennifer Gallagher, Rebecca Harris, Ilona Johnson, Sukriti Kc, Mark Robertson, Nicola Innes

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BDJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Waraf Al-YaseenPaediatric Dentistry Department, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY, UK. al-yaseenw1@cardiff.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7026-6726
Rhiannon JonesEducation, Scholarship and Innovation, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6771-7669
Scott McGregorService Delivery Division, Library and Learning Centre, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HR, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0457-5368
William WadeCentre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2685-826X
Jennifer GallagherDean for International Affairs | Newland-Pedley Professor of Oral Health Strategy | Hon Consultant in Dental Public Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5068-8008
Rebecca HarrisDeputy Chief Dental Officer for England. Professor/Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health, the University of Liverpool, Room 124, First Floor, Block B Waterhouse Building, 1-5 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GL, England.
Ilona JohnsonHealth Improvement Division, Public Health Wales, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9712-2693
Sukriti KcVisiting Research Associate- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Bessemer Rd, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
Mark RobertsonChild Dental and Oral Health, School of Dentistry, University of Dundee, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 4HR, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0005-3044
Nicola InnesSchool of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9984-0012
Cardiff University · GBKing's College London · GBUniversity of Dundee · GBPublic Health Wales · GBUniversity of Liverpool · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in dental care globally, in part due to the potential for contaminated aerosol to be generated by dental activities. This systematic review assesses the literature for changes in aerosol-contamination levels when rotary instruments are used, (1) as distance increases from patient's mouth; (2) as time passes after the procedure; and (3) when using different types of handpieces.

methodsThe review methods and reporting are in line with PRISMA statements. A structured search was conducted over five platforms (September 2021). Studies were assessed independently by two reviewers. To be eligible studies had to assess changes in levels of aerosol contamination over different distances, and time points, with rotary hand instruments. Studies' methodologies and the sensitivity of the contamination-measurement approaches were evaluated. Results are presented descriptively.

resultsFrom 422 papers identified, 23 studies were eligible. All investigated restorative procedures using rotary instruments and one study additionally looked at orthodontic bracket adhesive material removal. The results suggest contamination is significantly reduced over time and distance. However, for almost all studies that investigated these two factors, the sizes of the contaminated particles were not considered, and there were inconclusive findings regarding whether electric-driven handpieces generate lower levels of contaminated particles.

conclusionAerosol contamination levels reduce as distances, and post-procedure times increase. However, there was sparce and inconsistent evidence on the clearing time and no conclusions could be drawn. High-speed handpieces produce significantly higher levels of contamination than slow-speed ones, and to a lesser extent, micro-motor handpieces. However, when micro-motor handpieces were used with water, the contamination levels rose and were similar to high-speed handpiece contamination levels.

Identifiers

PMID36068221
PMCPMC9447949
OpenAlexW4294817713

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.