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Dentistry poses a lot of threats of infection to the dentist or the orthodontist. The tooth doctor has to be a little extra cautious while operating on a patient. Therefore, it is advisable to put on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while the operation is going on.
Why exactly do dentists need a PPE while performing an orthodontic treatment? While operating, spray particles are created which comprise particles of saliva, water, blood, micro-organisms and particles of contamination. Let’s examine a splatter closely: on one hand you've got the spatter and on the other hand you've got the aerosol component. Now, in any kind of cosmetic surgery or ortodoncia, you'll have spatter which easily settles down on any surface. They are therefore easy to trace and can be wiped out manually.
On the other hand, you have 10 micron-size of what is termed as aerosol which is air-borne. They are invisible to the naked eye and take considerable time to settle down. These are the primary carriers of infections and have the capacity of carrying germs and cause illness. Dental dams and high-speed air evacuation can help in the prevention of infection. But then this is not possible at all times and at all places. Here comes the purpose and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will help protect and filter the air out of the spit.
What about the dental protective eyewear? Eyewear and face masks protect the face and more importantly the eyes from any kind of penetration of the mucous membranes or microorganisms. As mentioned earlier, they segregate air from disease and hence are a must. Some of them are also available in disposable versions.
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