Low Cost Equipment with Compressor System and Balanced Pressure to Protect the Professional Dentist Against Contaminated Aerosol During COVID-19 Pandemic

José Custódio Feres Vieira

Summary

During the current coronavirus epidemic, personal protective equipment has become a vital issue. Depending on the procedure, the generation of aerosols increases the risk of infection for healthcare professionals. However, in dentistry, there is a high risk of contamination from blood or tissue fluids, generated in surgical procedures with ultrasonic and high-speed cutting devices. Thus, the creation of a prototype with a functional respiratory protection system offers filtered air at the entrance and exit of the circuit, also benefiting the patient. This experimental and unprecedented air purification system has 99.9 % high efficiency filters, positive and negative pressure control and also generates an internal balance of air flow; its purpose is to maintain the facial seal of the snorkel mask. The results showed that this air purification system could be an option in environments contaminated by aerosol caused by rotary intruments in dentistry.

KEY WORDS: COVID-19, coronavirus, snorkel, mask, aerosol, dentistry.

How to cite this article

VIEIRA, J. C. F. Low cost equipment with compressor system and balanced pressure to protect the professional dentist against contaminated aerosol during COVID-19 pandemic. Int. J. Odontostomat.,14(4):523-528, 2020.