MICROSCOPE DRAPED SHROUD DESIGNED TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 VIRUS

COVID-19 has attracted attention throughout society and led to a focus in dental practice on the risk of airborne infection by bioaerosols. Prevention of spray infection is more difficult in dental therapy with a microscope than dental therapy without one, and as a possibly effective means, we devised a microscope draped shroud (designed by Uchida, Uchida-Drape) composed of a plastic bag and investigated its effect on particle flow with a laser beam and a high-speed camera. The results showed that combined use of a microscope and an Uchida-Drape can reduce the airborne spray exposure of both practitioner and assistant to a level lower than that of ordinary therapy.