Research Projects

Healthcare-associated infections during medical or dental procedures are a growing concern, particularly for front-line healthcare professionals who are more susceptible to the disease. Dental care is a prime example, as it is common to generate aerosols and splatters during routine dental procedures. Three potential routes of infection are contact transmission, airborne transmission, and vector transmission. This project aims to quantify aerosols at every dental procedure on a granular level, categorizing aerosol generation within a simulated setting, determining droplet pattern distribution and transport, analyzing procedural mitigation strategies, and intervening in gaps between quality and quantity assessment of aerosol generation for disease transmission. Using an optical particle analyzer, the research aims to build a fundamental understanding of aerosol generation during dental procedures and their differences in size and transport. The outcomes of this study will guide clinicians in establishing techniques to reduce aerosol generation and improve mitigation strategies, support the design of new dental equipment or instruments, and serve as a precursor for computer simulation models and mathematical modeling. The knowledge gained from this study will help contain droplet transmission and reduce exposure to dental care professionals.