Enamel Aerosols Created During Use of the Air Turbine Handpiece

¹ Birmingham Dental School, St. Mary's Row, Birmingham, England

A method of sampling air for tooth particles during the use of the air turbine handpiece and using special filters is described and evaluated.

An experimental mouth was devised to enable repetitive samples to be taken under standard conditions.

The results were assessed by a statistical particle counting procedure and also chemically, using a chelatometric technic to establish the weights of the samples of tooth enamel that was blown into the ambient air of the operator who is using an air turbine drill.

The amount of flying tooth particles was considerable during the cutting of upper teeth at the front of the mouth. It was much less when other teeth were being cut. This quantity was reduced by using a water spray while cutting.

Considerable protection was afforded the eyes by spectacles and the respiratory passages by a paper mask. The use of a fan was of doubtful value.