Novel product Aero Shield introduced to protect dental personnel

Aerosol clouds carry airborne particles including SARS-CoV-2. Now two members of Hook Dental Club have come up with a simple answer to stop dental staff being exposed to airborne particles created during dental procedures by trapping and redirecting them. Dr Korosh Majidi and Dr Hadi Sanei are behind the design and manufacture of the novel barrier product Aero Shield, a transparent, quarter hemisphere shaped sheet of cast acrylic, a form of polymethyl methacrylate. There is a plastic cover that can be hooked onto the shield during dental procedures, creating a closed space to trap particles. Trapping and redirecting airborne particles to a much more concentrated area within the Aero Shield facilitates standard dental set suction motors to vacuum up most of the particles, and the dental staff can quickly and safely wipe up the particles trapped within the shield surface.

Dr Majidi said: “I used Aero Shield to see my orthodontic patients for the last 10 days and found it fairly comfortable to work with. Its ergonomic design helps to keep your correct posture whilst providing direct vision. The access ports are particularly of great help during the long sessions as you can rest your arms on them. The other great feature is the mobility feature of the shield, which you can easily change the position of without the need for any adjustment. All patients were very relaxed during the treatment session and we managed to perform four-handed orthodontics without any difficulty. I personally recommend this shield for hygienists.”

Dr Sanei said: “As part of our rigorous tests of Aero Shield, we simulated a 15-minute AGP in two scenarios with and without shield. After each procedure, we counted the particle concentration size for 60 minutes. There was 45 minutes time difference for the two scenarios to reach a same and safe level of concentration, which is significant. Aero Shield is not an ultimate solution to the risk we are facing associated to the cross contamination of COVID-19, but certainly is a common-sense measure that needs to be taken.”