Does Hydrogen Peroxide/Colloidal-Silver Reduce the Aerosolized Bacteria Generated During Dental Procedures?

OBJECTIVES: Bioaerosols containing live microorganisms that may cause disease development are formed during many dental procedures. Although some recent studies have addressed reduction of the aerosolized bacterial load, none have examined the use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)/colloidal-silver for this purpose. The current study aimed to evaluate the reduction of aerosolized bacteria during dental procedures at different distances and directions and investigate the efficacy of H2O2/Colloidal-silver on Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: Group A (n = 300) was the control group where sterile distilled water was used. Group B (n = 300) was the study group, where sterile distilled water with 500 ppm H2O2/Colloidal-silver was used. Blood agar plates were placed at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions and the head position (relative to 12 o'clock) at different distances; the head phantom's jaws were then contaminated with bacterial suspension at each position. The plates were then incubated for 24-48 h. The grown colonies were counted and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU)/plate. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for comparing independent samples. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between Group A and Group B bacterial counts at 50, 100, and 200 cm distances at the 6 o'clock position, and at 100 and 200 cm distances at the 9 o'clock position (p < 0.001, remaining significant after Bonferroni correction). There was a notable reduction in Group B at the head position compared to Group A. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that H2O2/Colloidal-silver (0.05%) had bactericidal efficacy against settled Staphylococcus aureus contamination at the positions tested.