Abstract
Dental-care workers operate very close to the patient’s mouth and are at high risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2. Droplets may be contaminated by patient’s saliva and exhaled breath particles. All asymptomatic patients should be considered as Coronavirus positive. All dental procedures must be revised after positive identification of SARS-Cov-2. Novel recommendations as the use of novel suction cannula designed for fast spray/saliva aspiration, use of Tyvek suits and innovative sprayhoods designed for dental-care worker protections are proposed to prevent virus transmission. New tailored operative and clinical procedures are being currently developed by university dental clinics and hospitals in attempt to reduce risk for dental workers and patients.
Highlights
A SARS-Cov-2 pandemic wave has spread across Europe and other world countries
The large number of healthcare workers (HCWs) positive to SARS-CoV-2 in Italy during the current emergency was related to the work in high-risk areas—potentially infected environments—where aerosol-generating procedures are performed as in intensive care units, emergency rooms, departments of pulmonology and infectious diseases, and mostly in dental clinics
The principal problem in dental clinics is constituted by the great number of aerosols and droplets generated by dental procedures and mixed with patient saliva and breath, which may contain a high number of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria
Summary
A SARS-Cov-2 pandemic wave has spread across Europe and other world countries. It is expected that further pandemic recrudescence will occur in the months and probably years. The large number of healthcare workers (HCWs) positive to SARS-CoV-2 in Italy during the current emergency was related to the work in high-risk areas—potentially infected environments—where aerosol-generating procedures are performed as in intensive care units, emergency rooms, departments of pulmonology and infectious diseases, and mostly in dental clinics. There is a need to study practical measures and predispose new guidelines for clinicians— designed for each medical specialty—for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, in at-risk health dental care workers [2]. In the present commentary the authors want to perform a clinical picture of the dental procedures and focus on the several causes for high concern and to propose new devices to help to reduce the risk of contamination
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