Changes in dental practice in times of COVID-19: review and recommendations for dental health care

Manuela Gonçalves De Souza E Silva Silveira Silveira,Thais Freitas Formozo Tillmann,Mariana Silveira Echeverria,Matheus Dos Santos Fernandez,Alexandre Emidio Ribeiro Silva,Júlia Freire Danigno

doi:10.1590/1981-86372021000120200073

Manuela Gonçalves De Souza E Silva Silveira Silveira, Thais Freitas Formozo Tillmann + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-86372021000120200073

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article was to discuss biosafety measures described in the main protocols for minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission during dental care. COVID-19 appeared in China in late 2019 and quickly spread to other countries. Factors inherent to dental practice, such as proximity to the patient, transmission through saliva and breath, and the generation of aerosols during procedures, place the dental team at the top of the list among the most vulnerable healthcare providers. Health authorities initially recommended only maintaining urgent and emergency care and suspending elective dental procedures. Currently, elective care is gradually being resumed and requires numerous adjustments to the environment and professional routine in terms of biosafety. Several methods had been recommended to prevent the spread of other infectious diseases prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, further modifications are needed for the waiting room, patient screening and flow, procedures, garments, and even in dental office itself. Thus, dental professionals need to be prepared to adopt the new recommendations in order to reduce the chance of disease transmission.

Highlights

In December of 2019, cases of diseases that caused severe pneumonia were reported for the first time in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, China [1]
In March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) [3] declared the emergence of a pandemic caused by a new strain of the virus, denominated severe acute respiratory syndrome by coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) [4]
There have generally been no changes among the global recommendations regarding the cleaning and Dentists and staff are exposed to pathogens in daily dental practice through gingival fluids, saliva, and blood by either direct contact or in the form of aerosols

Summary

Introduction

In December of 2019, cases of diseases that caused severe pneumonia were reported for the first time in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, China [1] This was followed by an exponential increase in the number of cases throughout the world [2]. In March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) [3] declared the emergence of a pandemic caused by a new strain of the virus, denominated severe acute respiratory syndrome by coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) [4]. This pandemic became known as the disease caused by the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Vaccines for SARS CoV-2 are rapidly being developed but will probably not be available in time to assist in combating this first wave of the pandemic [7]

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