1Former Lecturer, Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore
2Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
3Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
4Associate Professor, Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
5Assistant Professor, Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Karuna YM, Assistant Professor, Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. Email: karuna.ym@manipal.edu, Contact No: 9964116229
Online published on 23 December, 2019.
To comparatively evaluate the protecting efficiency of mandarin collar aprons as against the open collar aprons.
Cross-sectional randomized comparative study
Ten post graduate students were given a verbal written set of instructions to be followed during the study. Each study participant was made to wear an open collar and a mandarin collar aprons separately on two different days. The microbial samples were collected using a sterile swab from the chest area of the street clothing at the beginning of the day at dental clinic (Pre patient care) and at the end of the day at dental clinic (Post patient care). The obtained samples were microbiologically analyzed and the difference in the colony count between the two types of aprons were compared.
Significantly more number of gram positive cocci were seen in open collar apron group, when the difference between the pre work and post work colony counts were compared (p=0.031).
Mandarin collar aprons offer significantly better protection of the street clothing of the dental health care providers than the closed collar aprons against the colonization of gram positive cocci.
White coat, protection, efficiency, dentists
