Qualitative Analysis of Bacterial Aerosols Generated during Ultrasonic Dental Scaling

Aims: To compare the efficacy of two mouth rinses (0.2% Chlorhexidine and 5% green tea mouth rinse) in reducing the bacterial load (CFUs) in aerosol samples collected during ultrasonic dental scaling and to do the qualitative analysis of bacterial isolates.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Periodontics (Ziauddin college of Dentistry), Ziauddin University, Karachi, between January 2019 to August 2019.

Methodology: This study comprised of seventy patients (43 males and 27 females) within the age group of 20 to 65 years having gingival and plaque score between 1 and 3 and mean probing depth less than 5 mm. All study subjects were divided into 2 equal groups (group 1 and group 2). A split mouth design was used for ultrasonic scaling (oral prophylaxis). Control side was scaled without pre rinsing while the test side was scaled after pre procedural mouth rinsing. Group 1 study subjects were instructed to rinse with 10 ml 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouth rinse for one minute and Group 2 rinsed with 10 ml 5% green tea mouth rinse for a minute. Fresh blood agar plates were used for air sampling, which were then transported to Microbiology laboratory (JPMC) for aerobic culturing and microbiological examination.

Results: Greater percentage of Gram positive bacteria were found in aerosol samples generated during ultrasonic scaling. Gram positive cocci (Staph epidermidis and Micrococci species) were in abundance and very few gram negative bacteria were detected.

Conclusion: Dental health care providers and patients can easily acquire infections because of contaminated aerosols and splatters and so all infection control measures should be taken to minimize these risks. Pre procedural mouth rinsing with effective mouthwashes should be done before dental procedures as it is easiest and much economical way of reducing cross infection.