The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant attention to the aerosol-generating nature of dentistry. In orthodontics, significant amounts of aerosolized particles may be produced and spread during aligner composite attachment removal with a handpiece. This presentation will answer the following questions: What concentration of aerosolized particles is produced and how do they spread in an orthodontic operatory? What are methods to mitigate aerosols during orthodontic attachment removal? Does handpiece type make a difference? What evacuation systems are best?
Learning Objectives:
After this session, attendees will be able to:
Describe the concentration and real-time distribution of aerosolized particles during composite attachment removal.
Compare the effects of different handpiece types and evacuation systems on the distribution of aerosolized particles.
Identify strategies that most effectively minimize aerosol production and spread in the orthodontic operatory.
