The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants that cause the disease COVID-19 continued persistence in the community has revolutionized the practice of dentistry and demonstrated the importance of quality infection prevention practices. SARS-CoV-2 is classified as an Acute Respiratory Infection by the World Health Organization and can become part of the aerosolized product released into the dental environment. Its particle size is small enough to penetrate both the upper and lower respiratory tract of a human through inhalation.
Dental aerosol-generating procedures produce millions of aerosols. If aerosols are not controlled, they will enter the dental environment and stay suspended in the air for long periods of time and travel great distances (6-9 feet) through passive diffusion. They contain pathogenic organisms (bacterial and viral), blood, and saliva and when they find a portal of entry, they can cause disease. Surface disinfection, personal protective equipment, and environmental aerosol-reduction strategies in the dental office have changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This course will discuss these changes as it relates to aerosol-generating procedures and present best practices that mitigate the risk of disease transmission.
After completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Identify the environmental risk dental aerosols create in an office space.
- Implement infection prevention office protocols that mitigate the risk of disease transmission when an aerosol-generating procedure is performed.
- Select the personal protective equipment that offers the highest level of protection while participating in an aerosol-generating procedure.
- Developed and implement surface disinfection protocols based on the behavior of environmental aerosol behavior and movement.
