DENTAL AEROSOL EXTRACTION
Dental Aerosol Fume Extraction
With growing concerns around the spread of viruses through – aerosol and pathogen – increasing exponentially there is a greater focus being placed on transmission mitigation. In the dental, medical and ophthalmology fields where there is prolonged close contact between the patient and provider, it is imperative that extra measures are in place to protect everyone in the room.
Inhalation or direct contact of dental aerosol can lead to the development of respiratory infections and diseases. The exact makeup and risk of exposure to dental aerosol cannot be measured due to the vast differences from patient to patient. Dental aerosol has been shown to cause airborne bacteria levels to increase by up to four times.
Exposure to dental aerosol can cause nasal congestion, headaches, asthmatic episodes, respiratory infections and illnesses. Possible respiratory infections and illnesses include the cold, influenza, sinusitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, Legionnaire’s disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and various strains of corona virus (COVID-19).
In order to protect the respiratory health of hygienists, dental professionals and patients stringent infection control procedures need to be in place to minimize the health risks associated with the transmission via the aerosols being created.
The CDC suggests that dental providers consider the use of a portable Aerosol Extraction Unit with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filtration while the patient is undergoing, and immediately following, an aerosol generating procedure.
The use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), a room air purifier or HVAC system can help, but aerosols continue to linger in the air and contaminate the room and its surfaces. Employing a Dental Aerosol Extractor utilizes a self-supportive arm to position the nozzle near the patient opposite of the dental professional so the aerosols and pathogens are immediately drawn away from the patient and the dental professional into the filtration system – providing much greater protection!
IP Systems has designed our F1000P-AEL and our F1000P-AEO aerosol extractor for this purpose. The unit produces greater than 200CFM of airflow for effective capture of the aerosols and operates very quietly. Most importantly, however, the unit captures the aerosols in a medical grade H-14 HEPA filter.
Our Products
PRODUCTS
FAQs on Dental Aerosol Fume Extraction Systems
Why use an Aerosol Fume Extraction System?
- Aerosol’s are known to increase the potential for transmission of viruses up to four times greater than under normal conditions. The use of a localized Aerosol extraction unit helps draw the potential airborne viruses away from the patient creating greater protections to the dental professional.
What is the proper positioning for the Aerosol extractor?
- The hood of the arm should be placed opposite of the dental professional and slightly above the height of the patients mouth so that as they exhale the aerosols and potential virus are captured in the air stream and drawn away from the patient and professional.
How often should I change the filters?
- IP Systems recommends changing the filters once every 6 months and definitely no longer than a year.
How should I handle the filters when changing?
- Most viruses cannot live on a surface for longer than 48 hours so we recommend the filters be changed 48 hours after the last use. When changing the filter surgical gloves should be worn just as a safety precaution.
How should I dispose of the filters?
- Methods used for the disposal of the filters should follow your local guidelines and be the same procedures for disposal of gauze and other items.
