Hepa Filtration Systems For Dental Offices

Ventilation of the dental office the second step ventilation in the dental office can include placing a high speed extraoral evacuation system close to the source of contaminants patient s mouth and additionally increasing air flows in mechanical ventilation systems e g.
Hepa filtration systems for dental offices. Currently there are no mandates in place that require offices to purchase air purifiers the effectivity of these systems against the coronavirus has yet to be scientifically proven. High quality filter options include hepa filters up to 99 97 efficiency on particles 0 3 microns and larger ulpa filters up to 99 9995 efficiency on particles 0 12 microns and larger and activated carbon. This guide is written for dental offices to assist in how to choose the right hepa filtration system and is based on questions we have received from dentists. Merv rated filters are typically used in air conditioning systems including systems found in most homes.
Hepa and merv filters are usually not the same. Drilling and other procedures can increase the presence of airborne viruses including viral hepatitis as small as 0 05 microns in diameter. Hyperhepa filtration filters up to 99 5 of even these tiniest of viruses and other contaminants. Merv filters are not effective at filtering microbes and viruses until they are rated at 17 or better.
Hepa stands for high efficiency particulate air hepa filters are physical filters designed to clear out at least 99 7 percent of particulates that are 0 3 microns or larger in size. Viruses and other contaminants can quickly spread through the air in a dental office. High efficiency particulate air hepa is a mechanical air filter. This requires advanced filtration that can purify air down to a very small size.
Dental air purifiers need to capture drill aerosols abrasion powder vapors and other contaminants including mercury. A medical grade air purifier is which uses h13 or higher grade hepa high efficiency particulate air where the minimum removal efficiency is 99 97 for 0 3 microns particle size. The term medical grade used by manufacturers to illustrate the filtration grade of their air purifiers. Merv filters have a rating system merv 7 8 10 and so on up to merv 20.
First we will give a brief overview of hepa filters and how to compare air purifier performance. Hepa air filters for a dentist office. The focus will be on how to clean rooms in a dental operatory and the waiting area. Ordinary hepa filters can only filter 0 3 micron particles and larger.