The University of Iowa College COD Wins Award for Best Aerosol Paper

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinic's (UI COD) published aerosol paper was awarded the David L. Swift Award by the Aerosol Technology Committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. This highly competitive award is given annually to the best aerosol paper published in a given calendar year.

The paper Assessment of Respirable Aerosol Concentrations Using Local Ventilation Controls In An Open Multi-Chair Dental Clinic was published in March 2022 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concern that COVID-19 could spread through aerosol transmission led to the closure of dental offices in Iowa and around the country. The UI COD remained open for emergency care during this period, limiting treatment to non-aerosol procedures.

As clinics returned to comprehensive care, the college remained concerned about the safety of returning to patient care with open operatory designs. To help address this concern, The UI COD reached out for help to an aerosol expert at The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Renee Anthony, Ph.D., M.S., and the University’s Occupational Safety Specialist, Justin Newnum, M.S., CIH, CSP.

Dr. Anthony and Mr. Newnum, along with Nicholas D’Antonio, M.S., and The UI COD's Mike Kanellis, D.D.S., M.S., and Brian Howe, D.M.D., M.S., conducted the study on the risk of the college's aerosol-generating procedures. The study found that the risks, given the college's preventive efforts, were minimal.

Courtesy of The University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics

Published on March 8, 2023