ADA Suggests Waiting Before Disinfecting Is Still Prudent
While the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed the recommendation to wait 15 minutes after aerosol-generating procedures have been performed before disinfecting the operatory from its guidelines, the American Dental Association (ADA) asserts that waiting may still be a good idea. The organization notes that one-size-fits-all recommendation of 15 minutes is not necessary but rather the wait time should be based on the procedures that were administered. The ADA recommends oral health professionals should consider the following factors when deciding how quickly a room can undergo disinfection:
- Room air flow rate; higher air flow generally shortens the wait period
- Length of aerosol-generating procedures
- Patient volume
- Use of HEPA air filtration devices
- Use of rubber dams and high-speed evacuation
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