The practice of dentistry uses a number of procedures that generate airborne particles, known as aerosol generating procedures. These can cause airborne contamination from salivatory and respiratory sources as well as dental instruments.

1. DENTISTRY:
What Are Aerosol
Generating Procedures?
Jonathan
Alexander Abt

2. DENTISTRY:
What Are Aerosol
Generating Procedures?
The practice of dentistry uses a number of procedures
that generate airborne particles, known as aerosol ge-
nerating procedures. These can cause airborne conta-
mination from salivatory and respiratory sources as
well as dental instruments.
2 Jonathan Alexander Abt

3. 3Jonathan Alexander Abt
AEROSOL
PRODUCERS
HYGIENE INTENSITY
The COVID-19 pandemic
has resulted in increased
hygiene regulations
regarding aerosol generating
procedures to help prevent
the spread of the virus.
Practices that can produce aero-
sols in dentistry include the use
of air-water syringes, ultrasonic
scalers and dental handpieces,
causing a mixture of air, water
and saliva from the patient to
enter the air.
Good hygiene practices are es-
sential when carrying out ae-
rosol generating procedures.
These include the proper clea-
ning, sterilising and storage of
all equipment, including instru-
ments, surfaces, and anything
else in close proximity.
The most intense aerosol ge-
nerating procedures are those
which use high speed hand-
pieces or ultrasonic scalers
without a rubber dental dam.
However, even low speed hand-
pieces, air-water syringes and
other procedures can still pro-
duce aerosols.

4. JONATHAN ALEXANDER ABT
You can learn more about
the implications of aerosol
generating procedures for
orthodontics by visiting the blog
of Jonathan Alexander-Abt.