Particulates in dental offices

[Guest guest]

The detnal hygienist cleaned my teeth yesterday by blasting with baking soda, as she has before. For some reason, I wondered about the particulates. We shook some of the material out and I opined that since we could see it, it must be above 3 microns -- but then I realized that there could be smaller particles that I did not see. I also know that once the stuff hits my tooth, it could be reduced -- or it could not smaller stuff off my teeth. So, out of pure curiosity, is anyone familiar with any studies of dental abrasives? Ever use a laser particle counter at your dentist's office? Or a study on the health of dental (not industrial) hygienists?Henry Slack, P.E.U.S. EPA Region 4Indoor Air ProgramFor more assistance, try EPA's Web site, www.epa.gov/iaqor call EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse . Experts are available 9-5 M-F

[Guest guest]

I'm from the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and have been involved with the manufacture and quality control of various major brands of toothpaste and tooth powders over the years. I can tell you that the issue of the safety of the abrasives used in dentrifices has been well studied, and both the industry and the FDA considers them to be safe for use. The only question on this score that I'm aware of is that some are too abrasive and could possibly damage tooth surfaces, but there are standards and methods of test to avoid this problem.

Of course, toothpaste is a different matter than blasting with baking soda. I presume your concern is that the particles might get entrapped in the lungs. I'm not aware of any studies on this, but I would think that since sodium bicarbonate is quite soluble in water, this should not be a problem.

If you are still concerned, I'd suggest you ask the American Dental Association at 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312/440-2500, to see what they can add. Among other activities, they set standards for dental products, and have an excellent technical staff.

Bill Mead Ch.E., P.E.

Particulates in dental offices

The detnal hygienist cleaned my teeth yesterday by blasting with baking soda, as she has before.

For some reason, I wondered about the particulates. We shook some of the material out and I opined that since we could see it, it must be above 3 microns -- but then I realized that there could be smaller particles that I did not see. I also know that once the stuff hits my tooth, it could be reduced -- or it could not smaller stuff off my teeth.

So, out of pure curiosity, is anyone familiar with any studies of dental abrasives? Ever use a laser particle counter at your dentist's office? Or a study on the health of dental (not industrial) hygienists?

Henry Slack, P.E.U.S. EPA Region 4Indoor Air ProgramFor more assistance, try EPA's Web & nb sp;site, www.epa.gov/iaqor call EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse . Experts are available 9-5 M-FFAIR USE NOTICE:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

[Guest guest]

Hi Henry!

Can’t find it now, but I recall

recently seeing an article about dental hygienists and silica exposure –

I believe it was in working on dental “appliances”. Fascinating isn’t it?

Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CHMM, CET

Klane's Education Information Training Hub

" Take a step in the right

direction "

93 Norridgewock

Road

Fairfield, Maine 04937-3116

207-453-KEITH (5348)

Fax:

keith@...

Particulates

in dental offices

The detnal hygienist cleaned my

teeth yesterday by blasting with baking soda, as she has before.

For some reason, I wondered about

the particulates. We shook some of the material out and I opined that

since we could see it, it must be above 3 microns -- but then I realized that

there could be smaller particles that I did not see. I also know that

once the stuff hits my tooth, it could be reduced -- or it could not smaller

stuff off my teeth.

So, out of pure curiosity, is

anyone familiar with any studies of dental abrasives? Ever use a laser

particle counter at your dentist's office? Or a study on the health

of dental (not industrial) hygienists?

Henry Slack, P.E.

U.S. EPA Region 4

Indoor Air Program

For more assistance, try EPA's & nb

sp;Web site, www.epa.gov/iaq

or call EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse

. Experts are available 9-5 M-F

FAIR

USE NOTICE:

This site contains copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We

are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of

environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and

social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any

such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright

Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site

is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in

receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For

more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own

that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

[Guest guest]

Hi Henry.

I love that kind of thinking! It's a great way to learn new things!

For studies on this topic I would first go to Environmental Health Perspectives.

www.ehponline.org type in "particulates in dental hygiene offices"

The studies will be listed in order of relevance.

Happy reading!

Warmest regards,

Stacey Champion

"Well-behaved women seldom make history."

-----Original Message-----From: slack.henry@... Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 5:37 AMTo: iequality Cc: iequality Subject: Particulates in dental offices

The detnal hygienist cleaned my teeth yesterday by blasting with baking soda, as she has before.

For some reason, I wondered about the particulates. We shook some of the material out and I opined that since we could see it, it must be above 3 microns -- but then I realized that there could be smaller particles that I did not see. I also know that once the stuff hits my tooth, it could be reduced -- or it could not smaller stuff off my teeth.

So, out of pure curiosity, is anyone familiar with any studies of dental abrasives? Ever use a laser particle counter at your dentist's office? Or a study on the health of dental (not industrial) hygienists?

Henry Slack, P.E.U.S. EPA Region 4Indoor Air ProgramFor more assistance, try EPA's Web site, www.epa.gov/iaqor call EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse . Experts are available 9-5 M-FFAIR USE NOTICE:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

[Guest guest]

Henry,

The investigation of aerosols generated

during various dental procedures was done by a colleague of mine, Ray Hackney,

at UNC. I’ve attached the citation

and abstract below. Using an

indicator organism, he found that dental procedures do indeed splatter things

around the operatory from the mouth, certainly raising the potential of dentist

and hygienist exposures to infectious agents.

Gene

Eugene C. Cole, DrPH

Professor,

Environmental Health

Department of Health

Science

Brigham Young University

229-K s Building

Provo, Utah 84602

USA

phone

fax

gene_cole@...

J Am Dent Assoc. 1998 Nov;129(11):1567-77.

Related Articles, Links

Using

a biological indicator to detect potential sources of cross-contamination in

the dental operatory.

Hackney RW Jr, Crawford JJ, Tulis JJ.

University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill,

University Health and Safety Office 27514,

USA.

The authors conducted a study using surveillance monitoring methodology to

identify operatory contamination and to evaluate the effectiveness of infection

control procedures. Viridans streptococci were evaluated as biological

indicators of oral contamination. Viridans streptococci, abundant in human

saliva, were detected on operatory surfaces after dental treatments were finished

and surfaces were disinfected. The findings validate current concepts of

infection control as demonstrated in barrier methods.

Particulates

in dental offices

The detnal hygienist cleaned my

teeth yesterday by blasting with baking soda, as she has before.

For some reason, I wondered about

the particulates. We shook some of the material out and I opined that

since we could see it, it must be above 3 microns -- but then I realized that

there could be smaller particles that I did not see. I also know that

once the stuff hits my tooth, it could be reduced -- or it could not smaller

stuff off my teeth.

So, out of pure curiosity, is

anyone familiar with any studies of dental abrasives? Ever use a laser

particle counter at your dentist's office? Or a study on the health

of dental (not industrial) hygienists?

Henry Slack, P.E.

U.S. EPA Region 4

Indoor Air Program

For more assistance, try EPA's Web site, www.epa.g

FAIR

USE NOTICE:

This site contains copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We

are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of

environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and

social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any

such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright

Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site

is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in

receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For

more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own

that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.