Ozonized water as pre-rinse and chlorhexidine as ultrasonic coolant: A Savoir-faire in times of covid-19

Abstract

Background: Use of high speed ultrasonics work under high pressure which generates spatter and aerosols, contaminate the surroundings with various infectious agents. To reduce the infectious agents several procedures such as protective barriers, high volume evacuation device and prerinse. Ozonated water is antimicrobial and biocompatible making it suitable as pre-rinse dental use. Chlorhexidine is effective against broad spectrum bacteria attributing to its bicationic inhibitory action, bacterial cell protein chelation and high substantivity in the oral environment. This study aims to evaluate efficacy and microbial content of aerosols after prerinse with Ozonated water and 0.12% chlorhexidine as coolant in ultrasonic scalers.
 Methodology: 40 participants were assigned to each group randomly Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D. Blood agar plates were placed on the chest of patients before the start of procedure.
 Group A pre rinse+ Chlorhexidine as coolant
 Group B pre rinse+ Distilled Water as coolant
 Group C Chlorhexidine as coolant
 Group D Distilled Water as coolant
 After gravimetric settling, blood agar plates were transferred to the laboratory for incubation at 37°C for 48 h, followed by a colony‑counting procedure by the microbiologist.
 Results: Chlorhexidine as ultrasonic coolant with prerinse with ozonized water significantly reduces the microbial content of aerosols generated during scaling when compared with distilled water and without pre rinse.
 Conclusion: Prerinsing with efficient antimicrobial mouthrinse before dental procedure minimizes the risk of infectious agent cross-contamination in the dental operatory.