At Village Green Dentistry, the safety of our patients and staff has our highest priority. Given the continuing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and our ongoing desire to take all measures necessary, we are proud to announce that we have gone above and beyond by adding an air purifier to our dental facility’s ventilation system. The OXY 4 Air Purifier is a highly sophisticated air filtration system that helps to reduce and remove contaminants like viruses, bacteria, mold, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors and microbes.
Each of us faces a range of risks as we go about our daily lives. Driving in traffic, flying in planes, and exposure to environmental pollutants all present a level of risk. While some level of risk is unavoidable, others can be dealt with by making informed decisions. Reducing and eliminating indoor air pollutants is one thing that we can do something about.
In recent years, mounting scientific evidence has made us realize that indoor air can actually be more polluted than outdoor air. Studies have found that people spend almost 90 percent of their time in indoor environments. Even when outdoor pollution may be greater than indoor pollution, this large disparity of time spent indoors means that indoor air pollution may actually be more of a hazard than outdoor pollution.
We thought you might be interested in exactly how this piece of technology will be protecting you when you visit our dental practice.
The OXY 4 AirPurifier
The OXY 4 air purification system utilizes ionic oxidation, ultraviolet (UV) light and catalytic reactions for the formation of ionic oxidizers. The system is especially useful for indoor environments that tend to have high humidity levels.
Let’s take a look at some of the airborne pathogens and particles that this new system will help remove.
Mold
Normally invisible to the naked eye, molds can present a health hazard in an indoor environment. In nature, the purpose of mold is to decompose dead organic matter like dead leaves and fallen trees. Mold uses tiny spores to reproduce. Once these spores are present in a moist, nutrient-rich environment, they can begin growing and causing a problem.
Effects on Health
Mold does not normally cause a serious health concern. However, mold spores can trigger allergies in some people. Symptoms of a mold allergy may include runny nose, sneezing, cough, respiratory irritation and eye irritation. High levels of mold can also aggravate the symptoms of asthma.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
If you are like most people, you have probably never heard of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are basically a form of gas that can harm anyone with a chemical sensitivity or asthma. One thing about being indoors is that any VOCs found in the air will be concentrated by this limited space. In fact, according to the EPA, VOCs are typically found at levels two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
Volatile organic compounds represent a range of chemicals mainly formed from carbon. VOCs easily disperse into the air in normal temperatures. Not all VOCs are harmful; many actually produce pleasant smells like pine and citrus. Other types of VOCs are very hazardous to the human body.
VOCs are often found whenever new materials are added to a home or public space. For example, off-gassing can occur whenever there is fresh carpet installed or new furniture added to an environment, such as mattresses and couches. Other ways that VOCs can enter the environment include cleaning, remodeling or painting. If they are not dealt with, these invisible chemicals can cause health problems.
VOCs: Health Effects
Studies suggest that inhaling VOCs at high levels for long periods of time allow these chemicals to enter the body through the lungs and reach soft tissues in the body through the bloodstream. This can lead to health problems like nausea, headaches and even liver damage. Exposure to high levels of VOCs for prolonged periods may lead to irritation of the eyes, throat, skin and nose. VOCs can be particularly harmful for those who already have a chemical sensitivity or suffer from asthma. Children and older adults are at greater risk for developing symptoms after contact with VOCs.
Airborne Pathogens
The OXY 4 Air Purifier is highly effective in removing airborne pathogens. In addition to viruses, the system can remove contagions like certain types of bacteria that can cause pneumonia.
Droplets that contain bacteria or viruses can remain dispersed in the air for a long period of time. Bodily fluids like mucus and saliva can also become airborne in the form of tiny droplets that are spread whenever someone sneezes or coughs. Studies have found that sneezes and costs can disperse particles remaining in the air for up to 10 minutes.
Like most viruses, COVID-19 is typically spread through airborne microorganisms. Since indoor air is compressed into a limited space, the air is constantly recycled. This is the reason that we have installed the OXY 4 Air Purifier so that every possible precaution is taken to ensure the safety of you and our staff.
How The OXY 4 Air Purifier Works
The OXY 4 Air Purifier utilizes an advanced catalytic reactive process using ionic air cleansers. The natural cleansers emitted by the system help to sanitize and purify the air that you are breathing inside our dental facility.
Features and Benefits
- Helps eliminate airborne pathogens, chemicals and VOCs
- Helps those with asthma, allergies and respiratory conditions
- Utilizes NASA technology
The OXY 4 Air Purifier Filtration system utilizes natural cleaning processes through the production of air oxidizers that seek out contaminated air, thoroughly detoxing the indoor air environment. Ultraviolet light reacts with titanium dioxide to create ionic reactions to detoxify the air indoors. The system has been measured to have an impressive 99 percent kill rate for many airborne organisms.
If you would like to receive more information about the steps that Village Green Dentistry has taken to safeguard patient health during these challenging times, or if you would like to schedule a dental appointment, please reach out to us today.