As more businesses reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, dental practices are considering enhanced measures to clean their facilities and equipment, as well as protect their patients and staff.
One of these tactics involves the use of ultraviolet light to sanitize the air, surfaces and equipment in dental offices.
In mid-May, Messina estimated that 80% to 90% of the company's new requests were coming from dental offices. "We will continue to evaluate the validity of emerging evidence and research to support any future recommendations supporting the safety and health of the public and profession," the association said in a statement.
UV light as well as cleaning products like soap and disinfectants can destroy this layer, causing the virus to degrade and die, according to Martinello. However, staff need to take special precautions in order to use this equipment properly, including not being in the room when it is in operation, according to Nicole Greeson, director of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Division at Duke University and a board officer of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Instead, dentists can rely on autoclaves, which are chambers that can come in small sizes and use heat to sterilize tools, according to Greeson.Online dental supplies retailer Treedental has seen an increase in demand for its UV Dental Disinfection Cabinet, according to Jenny Pan, an advertising and marketing planner at the China-based company. The unit has a list price of $145 and a disinfection time of 15 minutes, and is supposed to be able to eliminate germs on glass, metal and plastic tools.
In eliminating germs in the air, the product keeps them from settling on surfaces, according to Messina. He said the product is commonly used in hospitals, but that dental offices are becoming interested too. VidaShield costs anywhere from $1,400 to $2,000 per unit, depending on the model, according to Messina. Comparatively, UV light towers typically used by hospitals and other medical facilities can range in price from $25,000 to $100,000 per unit.
Currently facing back orders, the Santa Clarita, California-based company has been struggling to meet demand as there are a limited number of manufacturers that make the UV lamps the company needs for its products, according to Jones.
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