Dilute polymer solutions completely suppress aerosolization in dentistry preventing COVID-19 transmission

The aerosol transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has impacted the delivery of health care and essentially stopped the provision of medical and dental therapies. Dentistry uses rotary, ultrasonic, and laser-based instruments that produce water-based aerosols in the daily, routine treatment of patients. Abundant aerosols are generated, and reach health care workers and other patients. Viruses, including SARS CoV2 virus and coronavirus COVID-19 easily spread by droplets and aerosols. The generation of aerosols in dentistry - an unavoidable part of most dental treatments - creates a high-risk situation. There are several potential ways to reduce or eliminate the virus transmission: (i) cease or postpone dentistry (public and personal health risk), (ii) screen patients immediately prior to dental treatment (but appropriate testing is yet unavailable and troublesome, in general), (iii) block/remove the virus containing aerosol by engineering controls together with stringent personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Here a novel, forth approach is proposed. Viscoelastic response of dilute aqueous solutions of FDA-approved polymers to the inertial forces in dentistry, completely eliminates generation of aerosol particles for both the ultrasonic scaler and dental hand piece.