This study aimed at evaluating not only the amount of aluminum oxide particles deposited in a dental office while a dentist is using a pressurized air abrasion system, but also how effectively high-power suction is able to remove the dust resulting from that process. Artificial teeth were abraded through a device, which collected the particles laid down on the operation site, exactly at the same distance kept by the dentist from the patient's mouth. A high-powered suction system was employed to absorb the particles with both, a conventional and a funnel-shaped saliva ejector. The amount of particles was determined by the aluminum oxide mass deposited in Petri plates. Results obtained and showed by means of statistic graphics, revealed that the greatest amount of abrasive particles was deposited at a distance of 20 cm from the center of the phantom head, at the 9 o'clock operating position, using a conventional saliva ejector. Once the experiment confirmed that suction does not totally remove the aluminum oxide particles from the premises, it is extremely important that dentists and their patients are protected by the correct PPE during an air-abrasion process.
dental air abrasion; suction; air contamination; aluminum oxide; dental office
