COVID-19 pandemic: brief recommendations in dental practice

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, can be transmitted directly, by contact and by air. In this context, dental practice presents risks of contamination, as it involves very close communication between professional and patient, frequent exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, as well as aerosols and droplets generated in oral procedures. Objective: Aiming to contribute to increase the professionals and their patients’ safety, the purpose of this review was to conduct a brief overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its pathogenesis, diagnosis, transmission, and control routes in dental practice, in addition to recommendations for clinical care. Material and methods: The bibliographic search was performed using the descriptors “COVID-19”, “security measures”, and “dental care” in the databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Latin-American and Caribbean Health Sciences (Lilacs) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), without language restriction and published between 2000 and 2020. Results: The review of the scientific literature revealed that a careful anamnesis of the patient should be performed before any dental treatment. However, in the face of the current pandemic, if it is not possible to postpone dental intervention, procedures should be performed following recommendations that aim to decrease the generation of aerosols and droplets seeking to increase individual protection. Conclusion: According to the current context and scenario, the universal measures of infection control must be maintained, reviewed, and reinforced during any dental care. Further studies are needed to investigate and validate additional protective measures not only for dental professionals, but also for their patients.