The route of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has challenged dentistry to improve the safety for patients and the dental team during various treatment procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of dental evacuation systems in reducing aerosols during oral prophylactic procedures in a large clinical setting. This was a single-center, controlled clinical trial using a split-mouth design. A total of 93 student participants were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Aerosol samples were collected on blood agar plates that were placed around the clinic at 4 treatment periods baseline, high-volume evacuation (HVE), combination (HVE and intraoral suction device), and posttreatment. Student operators were randomized to perform oral prophylaxis using ultrasonic scalers on 1 side of the mouth, using only HVE suction for the HVE treatment period and then with the addition of an intraoral suction device for the combination treatment period. Agar plates were collected after each period and incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours. Colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were determined using an automatic colony counter. The use of a combination of devices resulted in significant reductions in CFUs compared with the use of the intraoral suction device alone (P < .001). The highest amounts of CFUs were found in the operating zone and on patients during both HVE and combination treatment periods. Within limitations of this study, the authors found significant reductions in the amount of microbial aerosols when both HVE and an intraoral suction device were used. The combination of HVE and intraoral suction devices significantly decreases microbial aerosols during oral prophylaxis procedures. The combination of HVE and intraoral suction devices significantly decreases microbial aerosols during oral prophylaxis procedures. Although rates of COVID-19 have remained low among US dentists, the authors aimed to determine the risk of there being COVID-19 in patients seeking oral health care. The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all emergency department consultations from June 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. They used Pearson correlation coefficients to compare rates with citywide prevalence (P < .05). The authors located 203 encounters with 149 tests and 10 cases of COVID-19. Cases were strongly correlated with the citywide positivity rate (r= 0.9147; P= .0039). All patients who tested positive were asymptomatic and afebrile, and one-half (50%) visited a dentist within a week of consultation. The rate of COVID-19 in a population seeking oral health care reflects the community positivity rate. Asymptomatic or presymptomatic patients pose risks to providers, staff members, and other patients. Dentists should remain vigilant during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, even with vaccination rollout. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains an accessible website with easy access to each state's positivity rate and caseload. Dentists should remain vigilant during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, even with vaccination rollout. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bozitinib.html The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains an accessible website with easy access to each state's positivity rate and caseload. The development of specialized panoramic radiograph machine software has spawned the introduction of an innovative and promising dental radiographic examination type extraoral bite-wings. But does this unconventional type of imaging belong in the bite-wing family? Is there any relationship at all to the conventional bite-wing radiograph? The purpose of this article is not to make a case for the diagnostic effectiveness of one system over the other; this is best left to further clinical evaluation. Instead, the authors intend to provide an outline of a few key and distinguishing elements of the intraoral bite-wing radiographic examination followed by those of the extraoral panoramic substitute and draw attention to the importance of reimagining the increasingly universal naming convention of this novel radiographic examination, the paradoxical "extraoral bite-wing radiograph", based on the fundamental principles of each of these imaging systems. The accuracy of clinical and technical terminology in oral radiography is of paramount importance to both the profession and patients, especially when considering emerging technologies. The accuracy of clinical and technical terminology in oral radiography is of paramount importance to both the profession and patients, especially when considering emerging technologies. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the America Dental Association released COVID-19 infection control interim guidance for US dentists, advising the use of optimal personal protection equipment during aerosol-generating procedures. The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine the cumulative prevalence and incidence rates of COVID-19 among dentists and to assess their level of engagement in specific infection control practices. US dentists were invited to participate in a monthly web-based survey from June through November 2020. Approximately one-third of initial respondents (n= 785) participated in all 6 surveys, and they were asked about COVID-19 testing received, symptoms experienced, and infection prevention procedures followed in their primary practice. Over a 6-month period, the cumulative COVID-19 infection prevalence rate was 2.6%, representing 57 dentists who ever received a diagnosis of COVID-19. The incidence rates ranged from 0.2% through 1.1% each month. The proportion of dentists tested for COVID-19 increased over time, as did the rate of dentists performing aerosol-generating procedures. Enhanced infection prevention and control strategies in the dental practice were reported by nearly every participant monthly, and rates of personal protection equipment optimization, such as changing masks after each patient, dropped over time. US dentists continue to show a high level of adherence to enhanced infection control procedures in response to the ongoing pandemic, resulting in low rates of cumulative prevalence of COVID-19. Dentists are showing adherence to a strict protocol for enhanced infection control, which should help protect their patients, their dental team members, and themselves. COVID-19 infections among practicing dentists will likely remain low if dentists continue to adhere to guidance. COVID-19 infections among practicing dentists will likely remain low if dentists continue to adhere to guidance.