Propagation and Evaporation of Dental Droplets, Emission and Exposure in Surgery Environments: Preparing for Next "Disease X"

Emerging respiratory infectious diseases have raised concern about their propagation patterns and impact on public health, and dental clinics have been regarded as the most vulnerable healthcare facilities. Here, we combine the experimental droplet diameter and velocity distribution database with the numerical simulations to assess the droplet propagation and evaporation process in dental surgery environments. Dental professionals’ exposure is analyzed from the final fate and particle spatial residence time. Based on the recorded droplet diameter range from 5 μm to 250 μm, emission velocity, and cone angle, over 85% of droplets would be deposited within 10 minutes after the cessation of dental procedures. Under the influence of droplet evaporation, the initial droplet diameter threshold for the deposition and suspension is 60 μm. Dental professionals’ breathing zones contain upwards of 0.017 μl of aerosolized saliva, leading to a high infection risk. The results can provide policymakers insight beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to better prepare for the forthcoming “Disease X”.