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Purpose: This study evaluated the pulmonary risk caused by possible respirable dust of
Al2O3 and SiOx resulting from chairside tribochemical sandblasting procedures in a dental
office. Materials and Methods: Dust was collected using a trap near the working field, and
quantitative morphologic determination and identification were performed with SEM and
EDAX. Forty blasting processes (total time 20 minutes) were aimed at a dummy to obtain
maximum pollution of the workplace. Respirable dust fraction was measured using personal
air samplers with an 8-µm cellulose-nitrate filter and a volume flow rate of 2 L/min. Mass of
the respirable dust fraction was determined, and respirable free crystalline silica was
identified with the help of infrared spectroscopy. Results: Blasting of metal or ceramic
surfaces with tribochemical agents produces respirable and potentially harmful SiOx and
Al2O3 particles with a diameter of less than 5 µm, showing a total concentration in the air of
less than 0.3 mg/m3. With and without dental suction, the concentration of the respirable
free crystalline silica was smaller than 0.02 mg/m3. Conclusion: Concern regarding the risk
of chairside tribochemical methods and possible impairment of health of patients and
dental staff is unfounded, even under extreme conditions or without protective measures,
since the concentrations of SiOx found in the air of the workplace were far below the
current threshold value of 0.15 mg/m3. Int J Prosthodont 2003;16:157–160.
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