Visualization of airborne droplets generated with dental handpieces and verification of the efficacy of high-volume evacuators: an in vitro study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns about the potential airborne transmission of the virus during dental procedures, but evidence of actual transmission in clinical settings was lacking. This study aimed to observe the behavior of dental sprays generated from dental rotary handpieces and to evaluate the effectiveness of high-volume evacuators (HVEs) using laser light sheets and water-sensitive papers.

Methods: A dental manikin and jaw model were mounted in a dental treatment unit.