Isolation through rubber dam to prevent COVID-19 exposure during flapless trans-crestal sinus lift procedures.

Abstract

In 2020, a highly infective new pathogen (Sars-CoV-2) spread from China to the whole globe, and became responsible of an acute respiratory syndrome, often asymptomatic but potentially lethal, named COVID-19. Airborne and direct contact contamination are the major infection pathways of Sars-CoV-2 and it has been shown that virus spread can also happen in absence of clinical symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 transmission during dental procedures can happen through inhalation of droplets from infected patients or direct contact with mucous membranes, oral fluids, and contaminated instruments. Both sinus lift and implant surgeries often involve bleeding and exposure to oral fluids, and a rubber dam could be used to reduce direct contact and the amount of potentially infected aerosol. The aim of this short case presentation is to illustrate how the use of a rubber dam could be extremely useful in preventing COVID-19 exposure during flapless trans-crestal sinus lift procedures.