Minimizing aerosol in Orthodontic and Restorative procedures in the era of a pandemic

ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
The scope of the lecture includes aspects of orthodontic procedures, which result in the generation of aerosol. Emphasis is placed on the formulation and constituent components of aerosol, which include airborne bacteria/viruses and particulates arising from the grinding of enamel and dental composites. The multifaceted effects of this mixture of dissimilar entities involve:

hazards associated with the production of PM 2.5 aerosol particles for the respiratory function, which might inflict silicosis;
the contamination of the operatory with bacteria, which stay airborne for extended periods of time;
the production of potentially endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) with direct effects on the hormonal homeostasis owing to the release of bisphenol A during grinding of the composite resins with rotary instruments.

The phenomena accompanying the placement and removal of composite resins and aligner attachments are reviewed and misconceptions or traditional beliefs are clarified. Along with the description of the effects induced and their potential health impact, a brief summary of evidence-based and empirically-derived guidelines to limit the undesirable effects associated with the use of rotary instruments in a dental setting is provided. To this end, a wide array of materials, processes, and apparatuses focusing on reducing, controlling or negating the potential hazardous effects relating to the infectious nature or biohazardous action of aerosol is presented.