Human exposure to infectious aerosols results in the transmission of diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. Most dental procedures generate a significant number of aerosolized particles, increasing transmission risk in dental settings. Since the generation of aerosols in dentistry is unavoidable, many clinics have started using intervention strategies such as area-filtration units and extraoral evacuation equipment, especially under the relatively recent constraints of the pandemic. However, the effectiveness of these devices in dental operatories has not been studied. Therefore, the ability of dental personnel to efficiently position and operate such instruments is also limited. To address these challenges, we utilized a real-time sensor network for assessment of aerosol dynamics during dental restoration and cleaning producers with and without intervention. The strategies tested during the procedures were (i) local area High-Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filters and (ii) Extra-Oral Suction Device (EOSD). The study was conducted at the University of Washington School of Dentistry using a network of 13 fixed sensors positioned within the operatory and one wearable sensor worn by the dental operator. The sensor network provides time and space-resolved particulate matter (PM) data. Three-dimensional (3D) visualization informed aerosol persistence in the operatory. It was found that area filters did not improve the overall aerosol concentration in dental offices in a significant way. A decrease in PM concentration by an average of 16% was observed when EOSD equipment was used during the procedures. The combination of real-time sensors and 3D visualization can provide dental personnel and facility managers with actionable feedback to effectively assess aerosol transmission in medical settings and develop evidence-based intervention strategies.
【저자키워드】 infection control, Aerosols, Air quality, Dispersion modeling, dental clinics, high-volume evacuation, extra-oral suction device, particle concentration, sensor network, exposure assessment, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, pandemic, Tuberculosis, Influenza, equipment, Human, risk, Intervention, Local, Transmission, aerosol, Particle, clinics, persistence, Effectiveness, dentistry, School, Device, Combination, Concentration, Particles, average, HEPA, operator, MOST, decrease, IMPROVE, tested, was used, develop, generate, conducted, provide, fixed, extraoral, positioned, transmission of disease, University of Washington, 【제목키워드】 aerosol, sensor, network,