Strategies for preventing aerosol-generated microbial contamination in dental procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol generation in dental practice is a significant concern in infection control. This study aimed to investigate the strategies for controlling and preventing aerosol-generated microbes during dental procedures.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines through electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Scopus) for studies reporting interventions, including mouthwash and suction devices, that were effective against pathogens generated during dental procedures. Predefined criteria identified eligible studies. Pooled efficacy was estimated using RevMan 5.4's random-effects model.Quality assessments were performed using RoB-2.0 and the Robvis web application.

RESULTS

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 19 papers. Cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, botanical medicines, and suction devices are the most used dental therapies to minimise microbial contamination. Overall, these treatments showed success with a pooled effectiveness of -46.64 (95% CI: -60.89 to -32.38, I2=100%, p<0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasises the need for a multifaceted approach that uses antiseptic mouthwash and suction devices to reduce cross-contamination and infection transmission during aerosol-generated dental procedures, safeguarding patients and dental workforce.