How we manage aerosols?

Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Virus. The virus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets (aerosols). Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can occur during dental procedures that generate aerosols (“aerosol generating procedures”).

To help you visualize how aerosols behave inside an enclosed space, we used a fog machine to stimulate aerosols. In just few minutes, the fog machine has produced enough smoke to fill the entire room. This is why it is important to manage aerosols during dental procedures.

Our treatment rooms are designed with high ceilings that creates more space to diffuse aerosols and circulate air. All our treatment rooms are also fully sealed from floor to ceiling with separate AC units and equipment.

Isolation and ventilation prevents cross contamination between patients. Extra oral suction machines with H13 HEPA filters absorb and filter aerosols during dental procedures. Aerosols escaping the suction machines are filtered by an oversized Air Purifier with HEPA filters. 

The exhaust fan in the ceiling sucks in floating aerosols and helps create “negative pressure”. Our goal is to achieve more than 12 air changes/hour to ensure that contaminated air inside the room is removed and replaced with clean air before the next patient.

The last step in managing aerosols is inactivating any remaining virus in the air and surfaces through Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation.

Be safe at Affinity Dental Clinics.