An apparatus to aid in isolating a medical practitioner from infectious materials found in a patient. The apparatus includes a collector for providing a vacuum barrier around the mouth of a patient to trap aerosols and the like emanating from the patient during a dental procedure. The collector is flow connected to a vacuum source for drawing a vacuum, and gases drawn in by the source are passed through a filter. The collector is ring-shaped to surround the mouth and to allow the practitioner to see into the site of the procedure and is disposable after each operation.
