Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing MI
Your dentist and their team take extraordinary precautions to ensure your health and safety, including minimizing the spread of Covid-19. It seems that the pandemic is waning, and the U.S. may soon shift from a pandemic to epidemic status, meaning Covid-19 infections will be isolated incidences instead of widespread across the country. However, the risk is still out there, and it’s important to know how your Okemos dentist continues protecting your health and safety while providing the best dental care near you. A recent study shows that the type of handpiece or drill that your dentist uses has a lot to do with the amount of viral load found in aerosol spray. We thought it would be interesting to share this information with our patients and explain how receiving dental care at Tenaglia Smiles is safe and that your risk of contracting Covid-19 while receiving care at our office is extremely low. These findings are phenomenal because researchers know more about reducing the viral load by using modern technology – electric dental drills. This will help ease patients’ minds during the pandemic and for future viral outbreaks as well.
The Journal of Dental Research recently published a British study stating that the type of drill your dentist uses could impact your chance of getting Covid while at the dentist. During the study, researchers used a harmless virus similar in size to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in a comparison of aerosol spray patterns when using air-driven versus newer electric drills. This is vital in understanding how dentists can reduce Covid and other harmful aerosol particles while using their handpieces.
The researchers found that electric dental drills produced 99.98% less aerosol spread of the virus in the air than the air-driven drill. Additionally, no virus particles were detected on surfaces or in the air when a dental suction was used along with an electric drill. Samples were taken between six and 10 minutes afterward. Another notable finding was that using an electric drill significantly reduced the time needed to disinfect rooms between patients, which allows reduced wait times for patients.
How can I tell which type of drill my dentist uses?
Rest assured that at Tenaglia Smiles, Dr. Tenaglia uses an electric handpiece, although air-driven drills are quite commonly used by dentists in Okemos. You can tell the difference between these two types of drills because air-driven drills operate by pressing a footpad, forcing air to rotate the burr at the end of the drill. It’s how dentists remove cavities or reduce tooth structure to make room for a crown or veneers. Air-driven drills produce the notorious sounds you hear at the dentist, the whirring and buzzing of a drill. While dentists have relied on air-driven drills for decades, new and improved technology offers electric drills that are quieter, faster, more precise, and more consistent. Electric handpieces are designed to cut continuously with sustained torque. Patients love the benefits of an electric dental drill because it is quieter and creates less noise and vibrations while receiving treatment.
Modern Dental Practice in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, Michigan
So, if you’re still wondering whether it’s safe to go to the dentist during Covid, research supports the fact that it is incredibly safe to go to the dentist, especially if your dentist uses an electric handpiece. However, we understand that every patient has unique health needs. Therefore, if you have any questions about the safety of going to the dentist during Covid or want to learn more about how Tenaglia Smiles helps reduce the spread of viruses and diseases at our practice, please call (517) 347-6733.