Ultrasonic scaling equipment and high-speed drills can generate a variety of microbiological particulates that can become airborne in aerosols and thus contaminate the air in a dental surgery. This airborne contamination can vary in size from 0.5 to 5 microns in diameter and may remain airborne for several hours.

Effectively controlling microorganisms in the ambient air reduces the risk of infection - for the patient, the dentist, and their team. However, facemasks and other standard protection equipment do not normally offer adequate protection against fine and ultra-fine particulate pollution.

Disinfectants used in dental surgeries often contain agents such as aldehydes (formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde) or phenol. Continuous low-level exposure to aldehydes can have negative short term and long term health effects, such as breathing difficulties, eye and skin irritation, and irregular heartbeat. Compounds such as isopropanol, ethanol, and n-propanol can also cause irritation of the respiratory tract and the mucous membranes.

Recent studies have shown that dentists can have a higher than average level of mercury in their bodies. Mercury is used in the amalgam for routine dental fillings. Mercury transforms from a solid to a gas at room temperature. The gas (which is the most easily absorbed type of mercury) can be inhaled when amalgam is placed in the mouth or removed. Mercury is toxic and humans should avoid exposure to it as much as possible. 

The IQAir Dental Pro Air Purifier has been developed to provide a flexible, cost-effective, and low maintenance air cleaning solution for dental practices.

A research study published on March 17, 2020 in The New England Journal of Medicine N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 17. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973 suggests that the dental profession is exposed to an increased risk regarding COVID-19. The research indicates that the novel coronavirus can remain viable in aerosolised form for several hours, and can remain viable on surfaces for up to 72 hours. This seems to suggest that aerosol and fomite transmission of the coronavirus is plausible. As various dental procedures can generate large amounts of aerosols, it is advisable to capture these aerosols to curb the proliferation and effectively reduce the microbial load in the ambient air. The best air filtration unit for controlling viruses in a dental surgery is the IQAir Cleanroom 250 high-performance air cleaner.

The IQAir Cleanroom units are specifically designed for infection control and can be equipped with the IQAir FlexVac accessory to capture contamination at the source, as well as the IQAir V5 Hg gas and chemical filter to offer high-quality filtration for mercury vapours.