Cargando…

Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to microbial transmission risk via aerosols in dental practice. Demonstration electric toothbrushes are used intra-orally for education. The aim of this investigation was to measure the size of droplets emitted by the brush head of two demonstration oscillat...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Mark, Erwin P., Lewis, Michael A. O., Graziani, Filippo, Atlas, Boris, Utsch, Joern
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956750/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33652982
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052320
_version_ 1783664508180365312
author Mark, Erwin P.
Lewis, Michael A. O.
Graziani, Filippo
Atlas, Boris
Utsch, Joern
author_facet Mark, Erwin P.
Lewis, Michael A. O.
Graziani, Filippo
Atlas, Boris
Utsch, Joern
author_sort Mark, Erwin P.
collection PubMed
description The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to microbial transmission risk via aerosols in dental practice. Demonstration electric toothbrushes are used intra-orally for education. The aim of this investigation was to measure the size of droplets emitted by the brush head of two demonstration oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes. Measurement of droplet production and size was recorded in vitro using three methods: (1) Malvern Spraytec (LASER particle size measurement device with detectable particle size of 0.1–2500 µm) and brushes mounted on a 3D-printed, two-shell form-fit fixture with a supply of tap water; (2) a DustTrak aerosol measurement device and toothpaste slurry, with brushing simulated in the oral cavity of a phantom head; (3) high-speed visualization in a simulated-use situation in the oral cavity of a phantom head, with individual evaluation of tap water, water with detergent, 70% ethanol, glycerin and toothpaste slurry. Both brushes showed the size of emitted droplets was consistently between 200 and 1200 µm, categorized as splatter (dental aerosols are <50 µm diameter). No significant incremental aerosol-sized matter was detected during toothbrush operation. The high-speed video visualization confirmed only splatter-sized droplets during operation. These findings indicate that oscillating-rotating toothbrushes do not produce aerosol-sized particles during simulated use.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-7956750
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2021
publisher MDPI
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-79567502021-03-16 Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes Mark, Erwin P. Lewis, Michael A. O. Graziani, Filippo Atlas, Boris Utsch, Joern Int J Environ Res Public Health Article The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to microbial transmission risk via aerosols in dental practice. Demonstration electric toothbrushes are used intra-orally for education. The aim of this investigation was to measure the size of droplets emitted by the brush head of two demonstration oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes. Measurement of droplet production and size was recorded in vitro using three methods: (1) Malvern Spraytec (LASER particle size measurement device with detectable particle size of 0.1–2500 µm) and brushes mounted on a 3D-printed, two-shell form-fit fixture with a supply of tap water; (2) a DustTrak aerosol measurement device and toothpaste slurry, with brushing simulated in the oral cavity of a phantom head; (3) high-speed visualization in a simulated-use situation in the oral cavity of a phantom head, with individual evaluation of tap water, water with detergent, 70% ethanol, glycerin and toothpaste slurry. Both brushes showed the size of emitted droplets was consistently between 200 and 1200 µm, categorized as splatter (dental aerosols are <50 µm diameter). No significant incremental aerosol-sized matter was detected during toothbrush operation. The high-speed video visualization confirmed only splatter-sized droplets during operation. These findings indicate that oscillating-rotating toothbrushes do not produce aerosol-sized particles during simulated use. MDPI 2021-02-26 2021-03 /pmc/articles/PMC7956750/ /pubmed/33652982 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052320 Text en © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Mark, Erwin P.
Lewis, Michael A. O.
Graziani, Filippo
Atlas, Boris
Utsch, Joern
Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title_full Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title_fullStr Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title_full_unstemmed Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title_short Droplet Sizes Emitted from Demonstration Electric Toothbrushes
title_sort droplet sizes emitted from demonstration electric toothbrushes
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956750/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33652982
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052320
work_keys_str_mv AT markerwinp dropletsizesemittedfromdemonstrationelectrictoothbrushes
AT lewismichaelao dropletsizesemittedfromdemonstrationelectrictoothbrushes
AT grazianifilippo dropletsizesemittedfromdemonstrationelectrictoothbrushes
AT atlasboris dropletsizesemittedfromdemonstrationelectrictoothbrushes
AT utschjoern dropletsizesemittedfromdemonstrationelectrictoothbrushes