Swish. Spit. Germs be gone! It really is that simple if you use the right product. Now more than ever, we need to protect our patients and ourselves from pathogens that may become airborne. One way to do this is to have patients rinse with molecular iodine.
The only biocidal form of iodine, molecular iodine is present in trace amounts in povidone iodine and in high levels in IoRinse by IoTech International. IoRinse incorporates a patented technology that provides high concentrations of molecular iodine while minimizing nonbiocidal species of iodine. The result is a more effective, safer-to-use rinse without the staining usually associated with iodine. Simple to use and quite economical, patients find this prerinse reassuring, and it helps prevent any virus being released into the operatory through procedures generating aerosols.
IoRinse was tested at the Antiviral Research Institute of Utah State University.1 Its in-vitro efficacy was compared to a 1.5% hydrogen peroxide rinse, a 0.2% povidone iodine rinse (both were recommended by the American Dental Association in their Interim COVID-19 Guidance2), and a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate rinse against SARS-CoV-2. Only IoRinse was completely effective in deactivating the virus, and it did so within 30 seconds. In addition to the fact that these products are scientifically proven to be effective with 20–40 times more molecular iodine than any other povidone iodine solutions,3 they provide good PR for the practice and a way to reassure patients that you and your staff are doing everything you can to provide a safe environment.
References
1. Virucidal assay. Utah State University Institute for Antiviral Research. August 3, 2020.
2. American Dental Association. Return to work interim guidance toolkit. Updated July 14, 2020. https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_Return_to_Work_Toolkit.pdf
3. Wada H, Nojima Y, Ogawa S, et al. Relationship between virucidal efficacy and free iodine concentration of povidone-iodine in buffer solution. Biocontrol Sci. 2016;21(1):21-27. doi:10.4265/bio.21.21
Howard Glazer, DDS, FAGD, is a columnist for Dental Economics. He is a key opinion leader in dental products and maintains a general practice in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Dr. Glazer is a fellow and past president of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). He lectures frequently on the subjects of dental materials, cosmetic dentistry, forensic dentistry, and patient management.
