COVID-19 Implications on Oral Health and Emerging Preventive and InnovativeTreatment Approaches in Children: Literature Review

Abstract

Emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COV-2 (SARS COV-2) causing COVID-19 has led to a global pandemic. The virus is highly infectious causing severe infection of airways. However,COVID-19 seems to affect children less severely as compared to adults,yet they remain vulnerable to infection and pose a substantial transmission risk. Currently, there is no active treatment and diagnosis is still a challenge. This puts the dental offices at a risk of cross infection between the children and the dentists. The impact of the coronavirus on the oral health care of children and their families is significant and will have long term ramifications for health outcomes. Current restrictions on aerosol generating procedures provide an opportunity to re-orientate dental care towards less invasive and more preventive approach. In the current pandemic scenarios apart from various infection control measures and preventive approaches, innovative concepts like tele-dentistry and dental home, too,are acting as a great tool providing additional solutions for prevention of infection transmission. Aim:- The aim of this article is to analyze the implications of COVID-19 on the oral health of children and to provide specific modifications for preventive treatment approach along with use of innovative interventions in management of paediatric patientsin the pandemic. KeyWords: -COVID-19, preventive oral health, tele-dentistry,paediatric dentistry.