Recommendations for managing endodontic emergencies during coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak

Abstract

The management of endodontic emergencies has been particularly challenging during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak because of the possible generation of airborne particles and aerosols. The aim of this report was to contribute to the practice of endodontics by proposing a general protocol for the management of emergencies showing the rationale for remote diagnosis, clinical procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment and barriers at the dental office during the COVID-19 outbreak. A review of the literature was conducted up to May 2020 on relevant institutional sites, aiming to retrieve the best updated evidence. The reporting considered the Reporting Tool for Practice Guidelines in Health Care statement. Recommendations from Cochrane Oral Health, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were included along with the American Association of Endodontists resources and scientific articles that addressed the issue. According to this article the proposed protocol could contribute to the management of endodontic emergencies at the dental office during the COVID-19 outbreak.