TABLE 3.

METHODS OF REDUCING AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION.

DEVICE	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Barrier Protection—Masks, Gloves and Eye Protection	Part of “standard precautions,” inexpensive	Masks will only filter out 60 to 95 percent of aerosols, subject to leakage if not well-fitted, do not protect when mask is removed after the procedure
Preprocedural Rinse With Antiseptic Mouthwash Such as Chlorhexidine	Reduces the bacterial count in the mouth, saliva and air; inexpensive on a per-patient basis	Tends to be most effective on freefloating organisms; it will not affect biofilm organisms such as plaque, subgingival organisms, blood from the operative site or organisms from the nasopharynx
High-Volume Evacuator	Will reduce the number of bacteria in the air and remove most of the material generated at the operative site such as bacteria, blood and viruses; inexpensive on a per-patient basis	When an assistant is not available, it is necessary to use a high-volume evacuator attached to the instrument or a “dry field” device; a small-bore saliva ejector is not an adequate substitute
High-Efficiency Particulate Air Room Filters and Ultraviolet Treatment of Ventilation System	Effective in reducing numbers of airborne organisms	Only effective once the organisms are already in the room’s air, moderate to expensive, may require engineering changes to the ventilation system