Evaluation of Prior Use of Mouth Rinse on Microbial Load in Aerosols Produced During the Ultrasonic Scaling

Abstract

Introduction: Dental procedures, such as ultrasonic scaling, can generate aerosols containing potentially harmful microorganisms, contributing to the risk of cross-contamination in the dental office. The use of antimicrobial mouth rinses prior to dental procedures has been proposed as a preventive measure to reduce microbial load in aerosols. This study aims to evaluate the effect of prior mouth rinse use on the microbial load in aerosols generated during ultrasonic scaling.

Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled trial conducted in a dental clinic, fifty adult patients scheduled for ultrasonic scaling were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=25) and the control group (n=25). Prior to ultrasonic scaling, participants in the experimental group rinsed their mouths with a commercially available antimicrobial mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine for 30 seconds, while the control group rinsed with a placebo mouth rinse without any antimicrobial properties. Aerosols generated during ultrasonic scaling were collected using a high-volume air sampler positioned near the patient's mouth, and sampling was performed for 5 minutes during the procedure. Microbial analysis of the collected aerosol samples was carried out to determine the microbial load, including bacterial and viral content, using standard microbiological techniques.

Results: The results indicated that the experimental group, which used the antimicrobial mouth rinse, exhibited a significant reduction in bacterial load in aerosols generated during ultrasonic scaling compared to the control group, with an average bacterial count of 50 colony-forming units per cubic meter (CFU/m³) versus 150 CFU/m³ in the control group. Moreover, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in viral load in aerosols compared to the control group, with an average viral count of 5 plaque-forming units per cubic meter (PFU/m³) compared to 20 PFU/m³ in the control group.

Conslusion: In conclusion, the use of an antimicrobial mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine prior to ultrasonic scaling procedures significantly reduces the microbial load, both bacterial and viral, in the generated aerosols. This finding suggests that pre-procedural mouth rinsing can be an effective infection control measure in dental settings to minimize the risk of cross-contamination through aerosols, enhancing the safety of both dental professionals and patients during aerosol-generating procedures.