Air Purifier in Dental Offices: Does it Help?

Performing common dental procedures put dentists at the highest risk of exposure to various bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted through aerosols.

Most people dread their next trip to the dentist. Dental phobia is real! The anxiety and fear of pain can be overwhelming for others. But for the sake of dental hygiene, we pluck up the courage and go through with it anyway.

Dentists are also frontliners. Sometimes we get so wrapped up by our fear of dental treatments that we tend to forget this. Personal protective equipment (PPE), n95 masks, and eyewear help protect dentists against harmful air particles. But choosing the best air purifier for dental offices also proves to be valuable in solving air quality issues.

Here are the reasons why you should get an air purifier in the dental lab.

Air purifiers eliminate aerosols

Produced by some dental equipment, aerosols are both visible and invisible droplets generated during dental procedures. They are a mix of air, water, microorganisms, and the patient’s saliva which can accumulate in poorly ventilated areas and remain suspended in the air for a long time. Aerosols also travel farther than other airborne particles which can lead to the spread of viral infections.

Aerosols are even smaller than the respiratory droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking which only travel relatively short distances and drop quickly from the air. Potentially infectious aerosols, however, can remain airborne for extended periods and can be inhaled.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the use of HEPA Air Purifiers and Air Cleaners to help reduce aerosol concentrations in the dental office. A true medical-grade HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is made of thin fibers of glass that capture over 99% or all particulate pollution. Dentists should choose a HEPA air filtration system with a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). The higher the CADR rating, the more efficient and faster the air purifier will work to get rid of aerosols in the air.

Air purifiers contain multiple filters

Most air purifiers are equipped with a pre-filter and medium filter that effectively catch large-sized particles easily seen by the eye like dust, dust mites, pollen, and bacteria to prevent them from reaching the subsequent filters. These initial air-purifying processes not only help clean the air but also prolong the life of the filters.

High-end air purifiers feature different stages of filtration to deliver the cleanest and freshest air in dental offices. There are various types of air filtration such as:

• HEPA – Captures allergens and particles 0.3 microns in size at 99.97% efficiency and over 99% efficiency for particles less than 0.1 microns.
• Activated Carbon – More effective than regular carbon filters. Traps and reduces exhaust fumes, greenhouse gases, strong odors, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

If you want to know more about the efficacy of air purifiers in eliminating smells, make sure to check out this post – Does an Air Purifier Remove Smoke and Odor?

• Negative ions – Latch onto airborne particles and weighs them down. This allows the particles to get trapped by the filters or fall onto the floor where they can be vacuumed easily.
• Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) – A powerful air filtration technology that destroys particles as small as 0.001 microns. Incorporates UV light to breakdown pollutants.

Air purifiers are cheaper than HVAC systems

Other options for improving air quality in dental offices include installing powered HEPA filters to existing HVAC systems. But these improvements are expensive and can cost up to $8,000 per unit.

Standalone HEPA air purifiers are affordable and are equipped with a motor, fan, and filters that can be easily serviced and maintained. Some filters are even washable and reusable while others need to be changed every few months for optimum airflow.

Air purifiers are silent at low settings and will not cause any distractions in the dental office. They also feature variable fan speed settings that you can configure to suit your needs. Look for air purifiers that are Energy Star certified if you are worried about high energy consumption.

Did you know that air purifiers consume less power than other home appliances? Here are the 5 Reasons Why You Should Run an Air Purifier 24/7.

Where Should An Air Purifier Be Placed in a Dental Office?

Keeping the air in our homes clean is always a top priority, but we do stop to think about the air of the places we visit, like shopping centers or dental offices? It is becoming increasingly important for medical centers like doctor offices and dental offices to invest in air purifiers.

Dentist offices tend to deal with a wide range of bacteria and viruses. With so many patients, old, young, and in-between, it is crucial for dentists to provide the most sterile, clean environment that protects the patients’ health.

The Best Places for an Air Purifier in a Dental Office

The best place to put an air purifier in a dental office will be high-volume areas like the waiting rooms, operatories, and workstations. Ideally, every room in the dental office should have some air purifier to prevent airborne bacteria.

Choosing the Right Air Purifier for the Dental Office

Choosing the right air purifier for the dental office can be challenging, especially when there are so many models to choose from. The best devices will have either a HEPA filtration system or UV light technology. These air purifier models work extremely well in a dental office setting to improve the air quality and reduce any harmful airborne particles.

It is also important to consider the size and sound of the air purifier. Dentist offices can become crowded, so you do not want to invest in a bulky purifier that takes up too much room. You also do not want a model that is going to be exceedingly loud. The best models will be smaller and whisper-quiet to ensure each patient is comfortable.

Conclusion

Air purifiers are proven to solve air quality issues in dental offices. They are highly recommended to dentists looking to get rid of viruses larger than 0.1 microns and other contaminants present in the environment.

Boosting a dental office’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning or HVAC system can help remove these disease-causing aerosols but can cost thousands of dollars. A far more affordable approach would be to invest in an office air purifier.

Every dentist must have a medical-grade air purifier to effectively eliminate contaminants and maintain the good air quality in the dental facility. Do not forget to consider the size of the dental office. If you choose the wrong air purifier for your room size, you may not achieve your desired results.

Below are our recommended dental office air purifiers.