Sir, in reference to the correspondence entitled Altered exodontia techniques (BDJ 2020; 228: 811-812) advocating chisels and mallets in order to avoid aerosol generating procedures (AGP), a practical alternative is utilising a straight handpiece with a straight fissure bur and non-simultaneous irrigation. This would not qualify as an AGP and would be safer and more psychologically tolerable to patients as well.1