Air Quality – Technical Perspective

As the world is being plunged into a World Pandemic of COVOD- 19, many
essential services including Dental Practitioners are forced to evaluate their work
environment and work practices. Good air quality is an essential part of the “New
normal”.

As part of routine procedures, aerosols are generated such as dusk, particles, and
water from machines such as ultrasonic and sonic scalers, air polishing, air-water
syringe, tooth preparation with turbine hand piece and air abrasion unit. Influenza
and SARS (and possibly by extension COVID-19) can be spread by droplets or
aerosols as well. As a result, harmful invisible bio-aerosol particles are capable of
reaching the deepest part of human lungs through a coughing patient. Good air
ventilation creates good air quality in a room that minimises the spread of air-borne
transmissions.

Most offices uses an Air Conditioning Unit.

How does a simple Air conditioning unit works?

The air conditioner in a central heating and cooling system provides cool air
through ductwork inside your office, by providing a process that draws out the
warm air inside, removing its heat.

In a split system (window unit) which is very common in the region, the
compressor condenses and circulates the refrigerant through the outdoor unit,
changing it from a gas to a liquid. The liquid is then forced through the indoor
evaporator coil or cooling compartment. The indoor unit’s fan circulates the inside
air to pass across the evaporator fins. The evaporator’s metal fins exchange the
thermal energy with the air around it. There, the refrigerant turns from liquid into
vapour, removing any heat from the surrounding air. As the heat is removed from
the air, the air is cooled and blown back through a filter and into the office.

From that point, the condenser or outdoor unit then turns the refrigerant vapour
back into a liquid, removing any heat. By the time the fluid leaves the evaporator
again, it is a cool, low-pressure gas, eventually returning to the condenser to begin
its trip all over again. This process continues again and again until your offices
reaches the cooling temperature you want, as programmed and sensed by your
thermostat setting.

These units recycle the air in the room. This is not an ideal situation especially
when there is high amount of aerosol particulate in the air in the room. Some
recommendations are:

1) Alter the airflow pattern.

The air flow pattern can be altered by using a supplemental high volume
suction exhaust vent. The air comes from above but the suction vent is
placed lower so contaminated air is pulled down and out.

2) Fresh air intake duct- install a fresh air intake duct so fresh air is constantly
circulated in the room. Another method for fresh air intake is opening a
window slightly to allow for fresh air circulation.
3) Air Filtration – The High efficiency particulate air filters are recommended
for air filtration. They can remove 90% of particles about the size of 1-10
microns.

4) Not all dental offices may be outfitted with an AC unit. Open windows on
opposite sides the room for optimised ventilation.