Mark, Erwin P., Lewis, Michael A.O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1917-0651, Graziani, Filippo, Atlas, Boris and Utsch, Joern 2021. Droplet sizes emitted from demonstration electric toothbrushes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (5) , 2320. 10.3390/ijerph18052320 |
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Abstract
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.
Item Type: | Article |
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Date Type: | Published Online |
Status: | Published |
Schools: | Dentistry |
Additional Information: | This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited |
Publisher: | MDPI |
ISSN: | 1660-4601 |
Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 27 July 2021 |
Date of Acceptance: | 22 February 2021 |
Last Modified: | 15 May 2023 11:45 |
URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/142946 |
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