Dental Health Care Personnel Research Articles

Role of Dentist: COVID19 and Mucormycosis.

Dental practice has evolved over time and has adapted to the challenges that it has faced. The risk of infection spread via droplet and airborne routes poses a significant risk to the dentist who works close to patients. The risk of cross-infection between dental health-care personnel and patients can be very high due to the peculiar arrangements of dental settings. Dental clinics should have air purification systems with high volume excavators and negative pressure rooms for COVID-19 screening. Mucormycosis is a fungal disease that mostly occurs in immunocompromised individuals and those with uncontrolled diabetes. Dental extraction can trigger the occurrence. Increased occurrence of mucormycosis is seen in COVID-affected patients. This article gives a review on the dentistry-related transmission of COVID 19, the relation of COVID and mucormycosis.

Coronavirus disease: Dental review.

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic outbreak by the World Health Organization, creating a significant impact on health care system. Realizing the high risk associated with this disease and its high rate of transmission, dentists were instructed by health authorities, to stop providing treatment which includes aerosols and droplets and only except emergency complaints. This was mainly for protection of dental healthcare personnel, their families, contacts, and their patients from the transmission of virus. Hence, this review focuses on the life cycle of COVID-19, its clinical symptoms and several issues concerned directly to dental practice in terms of prevention, treatment, and orofacial clinical manifestations.

Assessment of an Innovative Mobile Dentistry eHygiene Model Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network: Protocol for Design, Implementation, and Usability Testing.

BackgroundAmid COVID-19, and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care, are cost effective, and ensure the safety of patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP). Traditional dental examinations, which number more than 300 million per year in the United States, rely on person-to-person tactile examinations, pose challenges to infection control, and consume large quantities of advanced-level personal protective equipment (PPE). Therefore, our long-term goal is to develop an innovative mobile dentistry (mDent) model that takes these issues into account. This model supplements the traditional dental practice with virtual visits, supported by mobile devices such as mobile telephones, tablets, and wireless infrastructure. The mDent model leverages the advantages of digital mobile health (mHealth) tools such as intraoral cameras to deliver virtual oral examinations, treatment planning, and interactive oral health management, on a broad population basis. Conversion of the traditional dental examinations to mDent virtual examinations builds upon (1) the reliability of teledentistry, which uses intraoral photos and live videos to make diagnostic decisions, and (2) rapid advancement in mHealth tool utilization.ObjectiveIn this pilot project, we designed a 2-stage implementation study to assess 2 critical components of the mDent model: virtual hygiene examination (eHygiene) and patient self-taken intraoral photos (SELFIE). Our specific aims are to (1) assess the acceptance and barriers of mDent eHygiene among patients and DHCP, (2) assess the economic impact of mDent eHygiene, and (3) assess the patient’s capability to generate intraoral photos using mHealth tools (exploratory aim, SELFIE).MethodsThis study will access the rich resources of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network to recruit 12 dentists, 12 hygienists, and 144 patients from 12 practices. For aims 1 and 2, we will use role-specific questionnaires to collect quantitative data on eHygiene acceptance and economic impact. The questionnaire components include participant characteristics, the System Usability Scale, a dentist-patient communication scale, practice operation cost, and patient opportunity cost. We will further conduct a series of iterative qualitative research activities using individual interviews to further elicit feedback and suggestion for changes to the mDent eHygiene model. For aim 3, we will use mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) to assess the patient’s capability of taking intraoral photos, by analyzing obtained photos and recorded videos.ResultsThe study is supported by the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. This study received “single” institutional review board approval in August 2021. Data collection and analysis are expected to conclude by December 2021 and March 2022, respectively.ConclusionsThe study results will inform the logistics of conducting virtual dental examinations and empowering patients with mHealth tools, providing better safety and preserving PPE amid the COVID-19 and possible future pandemics.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/32345

Decoding COVID-19: What Dentist Should Know?

The outbreak of the Corona virus has rapidly escalated globally as a Pandemic. Due to the characteristic dental setup & procedures the risk of cross infection is sky high not only to the Dental health care personnel but also to the patients. During this time utilizing digital resources to assist patients can be of great advantage. Doing less invasive procedures with more protection and screening can be the finest way to battle the situation. This pandemic situation provides an unprecedented opportunity for the dental community to shift the practice towards the use of Teledentistry. Teledentistry may overcome the obstacle in providing sufficient oral health services comfortably during the current pandemic situation. Although the world of Dentistry has many challenges the main aim is to provide value-based dental care and exploit the tremendous potential of Telecommunication services & other virtual and digital alternatives to confront the challenges that are faced due to infection control, lack of awareness etc. Keywords: Artificial intelligence,COVID-19, Dentistry, Pandemic, Teledentistry.

COVID-19 Infection in Academic Dental Hospital Personnel; A Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Close patient contact is an essential component of clinical dental education, which can expose students and faculty to risk of COVID-19 and its sequelae. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted among faculty and clinical students at an academic dental hospital in Al Madinah western Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed to collect data on prevalence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and long-term health and socioeconomic complications of COVID-19 infection. Results: Prevalence of COVID-19 was 19.6% among a total of 316 students and faculty. Participants cited family and friends as the primary source of infection (40.3%). Among cross-infection control practices, they cited failure to practice distancing as the primary reason for infection transmission (61.3%). The disease was symptomatic in 85.5% of infected personnel. Most frequently reported clinical manifestations were: fever, cough, malaise, and diarrhoea (74.1%, 56.5%, 40.3%, 32.3%, respectively). A proportion of 37.1% of infected personnel stated that they had long COVID-19, and 58.3% of infected students reported deteriorated academic achievement. Conclusions: One in five of clinical dental students and their faculty had COVID-19. Most cases were symptomatic, and a large proportion developed long COVID or adverse socioeconomic consequences. Regardless of the severity of symptoms encountered during the acute stage of COVID-19 infection, all infected dental healthcare personnel should be followed, especially those who report long COVID. Continuous follow-up and assistance for infected students may be warranted to mitigate the potential academic and mental drawbacks caused by the pandemic. Dental schools should adopt clear policies regarding COVID-19 transmission and prevention and should implement them in their infection-control education and training.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Dentistry in Yichang, China, and Protective Suggestions for Normalisation of Epidemic Prevention

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, and it affects all aspects of life, including dental care. ObjectivesThe purpose of this article is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the daily operations of the stomatology department and provide some guidance for dental health care personnel around the world in continuing to provide exemplary care while limiting the spread of COVID-19. Materials and methodsRetrospective analyses were performed on dental patients’ medical records from the stomatology department of the First People's Hospital of Yichang, China, which were collected in the pre-epidemic, epidemic, and post-epidemic periods. Hospital-wide triage and stomatology department–specific protocols were established in the hospital to prevent cross-infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsThe number of patients decreased and proportion of emergency cases increased during the epidemic period. With prevention protocols in place, the number of dental patients returned to the normal range with a slight elevation during the post-epidemic period. Thus far, there has not been a single documented case of COVID-19 related to dental treatment in the hospital. ConclusionsCOVID-19 has a major impact on daily life, including dental care services. Effective prevention and control measures including 3 levels of protection—zoning, instrumentation, and environmental disinfection—are needed for dental settings to provide care.

Periodontal management in the context of COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: The global pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has brought new challenges for healthcare personnel. In Dentistry, during the performance of specialized procedures, such as the periodontal management, it is necessary to find solutions for urgent and emergency demands, even in contexts of social isolation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to provide a global overview of SARS-CoV-2 in the oral environment, in order to encourage strategies and measures to prevent or reduce transmission in the dental setting. We particularly highlight periodontal management issues in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Information used for this review was sourced from the PubMed database, as well as studies and guidelines on COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study provides an overview of the relationship between saliva, the oral microbiome, dysbiotic biofilm, and the novel coronavirus. Concomitantly, it focuses on the role of periodontists and all dental health care personnel (DHCP) in adopting infection prevention and control measures during periodontal care.

Mercury hygiene and biomedical waste management practices among dental health-care personnel in public hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Indiscriminate disposal of hospital wastes including mercury/amalgam wastes pose a serious threat to life and environment. There is a growing concern about biomedical waste (BMW) management among health care workers, however there are limited reports on BMW management by dental personnel in developing countries. This study investigated the level of knowledge of BMW, observance of proper mercury hygiene and BMW management practice among public dental personnel in Lagos State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study regarding BMW management across public hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria was conducted following institutional ethics committee approval. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to obtain data from different facilities selected by purposive and simple random sampling techniques as applicable. The questionnaires were distributed among 437 respondents by convenience sampling. The resulting data were statistically tested using Chi-square and G-test with p-value < 0.05 indicating significant level. Amongst 437 respondents, majority were females (62.5%) and the highest proportion fell within the age range of 25-34 years (44.4%). Only 17.2% of the respondents had good knowledge of BMW management/legislation and 4.1% had good BMW practice. Less than half (49.4%) of respondents disposed mercury-contaminated materials inside the trash and majority (92.2%) did not observe proper mercury hygiene. Significantly better mercury hygiene practices were observed in secondary facilities (p=0.040). A minor proportion of public dental personnel had good knowledge and practice of proper mercury hygiene and BMW management. This shows there is an urgent need for training of health personnel on proper BMW handling and disposal in developing countries like Nigeria.

Preparing dental schools to refunction safely during the COVID-19 pandemic: an infection prevention and control perspective.

In late 2019 a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China and spread throughout the world over a short period of time causing a pandemic of a respiratory disease named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is easily transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets and direct contact. The scarce available data indicate that dental healthcare personnel are at increased risk for acquisition of infection. Following the lockdown lifting, dental schools should be prepared to refunction safely and provide essential educational and healthcare services while protecting their students, patients, and personnel. The generation of aerosols in dental practice, in association with the high-transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 through aerosol-generation procedures, the simultaneous provision of dental services to patients in the same areas, and the fact that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infected persons may transmit the virus, render the implementation of specific infection prevention and control measures imperative for dental schools. Herein we review the few evidence-based data available to guide infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19 in dental schools.

Using Dental Health Care Personnel During a Crisis : COVID-19 Pandemic in the Bronx, New York.

The first few months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged health care facilities worldwide in many ways. Inpatient and intensive care unit (ICU) beds were at a premium, and personnel shortages occurred during the initial peak of the pandemic. New York State was the hardest hit of all US states, with a high concentration of cases in New York City and, in particular, Bronx County. The governor of New York and leadership of hospitals in New York City called upon all available personnel to provide support and patient care during this health care crisis. This case study highlights the efforts of Jacobi Medical Center, located in the northeast Bronx, from March 1 through May 31, 2020, and its use of nontraditional health care personnel, including Department of Dentistry/OMFS (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) staff members, to provide a wide range of health care services. Dental staff members including ancillary personnel, residents, and attendings were redeployed and functioned throughout the facility. Dental anesthesiology residents provided medical services in support of their colleagues in a step-down COVID-19-dedicated ICU, providing intubation, ventilator management, and critical and palliative care. (Step-down units provide an intermediate level of care between ICUs and the general medical-surgical wards.) Clear communication of an acute need, a well-articulated mission, creative use of personnel, and dedicated staff members were evident during this challenging time. Although not routinely called upon to provide support in the medical and surgical inpatient areas, dental staff members may provide additional health care personnel during times of need.

Biosafety in Dental Health Care During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highly impacted dental healthcare assistance owing to concerns about the risk of transmission by contaminant fluids, droplet formation during dental practice, drastically reducing the number of dental procedures worldwide. This longitudinal study was conducted to monitor SARS-CoV-2 contamination in dental clinics during activities return of students at university.Methods: We evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR in a dental school clinic environment, on professors, undergraduate dental students, dental assistants, and patients from January 11th to March 12th, 2021 (9 weeks). Serological testing was performed on dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) during the first and last weeks. Additionally, samples with low Ct values were sequenced to identify circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and possible transmission clusters.Findings: A low number of dental staff (5·8%), patients (0·9%), and environmental sites (0·8%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most positive cases were asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic, and two asymptomatic DHCP tested positive in longitudinal follow-up RT-PCR test. Previous exposition to COVID-19 were found in 16·2% of the DHCP that showed IgM or IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and 1/3 of them had undetected antibodies in the last week. Variant Zeta (P.2) were detected. No cross-infection was observed among the participants.Interpretation: Our study suggests that dental practice can be executed safely when control measures and biosafety protocols are applied adequately. DHCP and patient testing, telemonitoring, proper use of personal protection equipment, and surface sanitisation are essential to avoid SARS-CoV-2 cross-infection in dental practice.Funding Information: UFMG/RTR/PRPq, FAPEMIG, CNPq, CAPES/MEC, FINEP, and Rede Corona-ômica BR MCTI/FINEP affiliated to RedeVírus/MCTI.Declaration of Interests: All authors declare to have no conflict of interests.Ethics Approval Statement: The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) (Protocol nº31041720.3.0000.5149) (https://plataformabrasil.saude.gov.br/login.jsf). All participants enrolled in this study were volunteers, and their samples and clinical data were collected only via signed consent forms.

Infection Control Practices Among Private Practicing Dentists in Nairobi During the Pre-coronavirus Disease 2019 Period.

Background: Cross-infection control is a dynamic field that requires frequent updates due to emerging diseases, advancement in technology, and scientific knowledge. Despite wide publication of guidelines, a laxity in compliance to the standard precautions for infection control by dental health-care personnel (DHCP) has been reported globally. Therefore, there is need to review previous shortcomings in order to adequately secure dental practices during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the study was to determine knowledge and infection control practices by dentists in private practices. The study was done a few months before the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Kenya.Materials and Methods: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out in selected private dental clinics located in Nairobi. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was utilized, while data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.0.0.Results: A total of 71 private dentists participated in the study. Their mean age was 38 years with an age range of 27–55 years. Almost all (70, 98.6%) the dentists were able to define cross infection correctly. Majority (62, 87.3%) correctly differentiated between sterilization and disinfection, while 9 (12.7%) had difficulties. Most (68, 95.8%) of the respondents were aware of the standard precautions for cross-infection control. All participants used face masks and gloves. About half of them (38, 54%) practiced hand washing after removal of gloves and 31 (43.7%) before and after wearing of gloves, while 2 (2.8%) washed hands only before wearing gloves. Only 31 (42.3%) and 26 (36.6%) participants reported use of rubber dam isolation and impervious barrier, respectively. All the dentists reported disposal of sharps into especially labeled containers, while about half reported use of disposable suction traps and amalgam separators.Conclusion: The dentists had a good knowledge on various aspects of infection control measures that were studied. Use of basic personal protective equipment was widely practiced. There were irregularities in hand hygiene, use of rubber dam, surface barriers, and waste management. The work highlights that many dentists were unprepared to manage infectious risk during the COVID-19 outbreak, which justified the closure of the dental facilities. Development of strategies to promote adequate and safe practice is highly recommended.

Urgent Dental Care During Italian Lockdown: A Cross-sectional Survey

IntroductionOn March 9, 2020, the Italian government imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. Oral health services were limited to only essential services. Nonurgent treatments were postponed. This study described the management of urgent dental care in northern Italy during the lockdown, with a particular focus on the province of Brescia. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to Italian dentists at the end of the lockdown (May 3, 2020). A total of 1407 dentists answered the survey. ResultsA total of 1205 dentists were included. Most of the respondents were dental owners (73.6%). About 79.7% of the dentists handled urgencies during the lockdown. The number of urgencies treated weekly was lower than that generally handled before the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (P < .001). Many dentists (81.2%) provided telephone consultations to evaluate symptoms. Pulpitis and abscesses were the most common urgencies (44.7% and 40.2%, respectively). Furthermore, 95% of dentists wore masks, protective eyewear, and surgical gloves while delivering nonpostponable treatments. The filtering facepiece 2 mask was used by 41.8% and 41.7% of owners and dental assistants, respectively. Financial concerns, risk of contagion, and personal protective equipment supply were indicated as the main current concerns. ConclusionsOur survey showed that Italian dentists took protective measures during the lockdown, thus minimizing the risk of contagion for dental health care personnel and patients. Many precautionary guidelines are now available, but a high uncertainty persists about dental health delivery during the pandemic.

COVID-19 Perceptional Disparity Among Dental Healthcare Personnel at King Faisal University: Applying Health Belief Model.

Objectives In Saudi Arabia, more than 100, 000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and more than 4,000 in Al Hofuf to date. Dental healthcare personnel are at a higher risk of COVID-19 due to their exposure to saliva, blood, and aerosol/droplet during their daily practice. Their perceptions of COVID-19 drive their behaviors. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional online survey to assess COVID-19 related perceptions and possible disparities between them. Statistical analysis Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science, version 23 (IBM SPSS). Descriptive analyses were performed using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, mean and (± SD) for numerical variables. Bivariate analyses were assessed using t -test and one-way ANOVA, with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results With a response of 75% (150), results showed that there were perceptional disparities: students and technical staff perceived more barriers to preventive measures compared to faculties with a mean difference of (−0.145 SD ± 0.580, p = 0.802, CI −1.29 / 1.00 and −2.433, SD ± 0.94, p = 0.010), respectively. This was also shown in threat perception with a mean difference of (2.525, SE ± 0.917, CI 0.71/4.34, p = 0. 0.007). Students perceived more threat than clerks did with a mean difference of (1.281, SE ± 0.569, CI − 0.16 / 2.41, p = 0.026), while clerks perceived less threat than the technical staff with a mean difference of (−2.790, SE ± 0.860, CI −4.49 /−1.09, p = 0.001). Conclusions There was a clear disparity in the perceptions among the different categories of participants. More emphasis on the training and preparedness of the dental healthcare personnel is required.

COVID-19 Outbreak and Dentistry: Guidelines and Recommendations for the Provision of Dental Healthcare Services.

After lockdown beginning from the third week of March 2020, face-to-face dentistry is gradually resuming with dental healthcare personnel feeling encouraged to safely provide treatment to the patients amid stringent infection control strategies. Having alerted to the associated infection threat, dentists will be better responding to the challenges of infection control in their clinics. Infection control strategies will follow the rapidly evolving guidelines of the local and international regulatory bodies that are relevant to this pandemic. Despite this, a concern exists as both the dental team members and the patients do not want to be the vectors for this deadly infection; and hence, the need for guidance. This article aims to inform dental healthcare professionals of the guidelines and recommendations to follow when receiving and treating patients in reopened practices. It appears that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has significantly and adversely impacted dentistry. The impacts seem to have long-term effect on the pattern of dental care; and a need for significant changes in the way dentists will provide dental care from now onwards. A wider use of tele-dentistry consultation platforms will obviously reduce the need for patients 2019; visits to dentists and dental hospitals. Key Words: COVID-19, Dentistry, Guidelines, Standards, Healthcare services.

CDC Consultations for Outbreaks and Infection Control Breaches Occurring in Dental Settings, 2010–2019

Background: Documented transmission of infectious agents involving dental care is uncommon. However, increasing attention to dental infection control, along with several recent outbreaks, have identified infection control gaps in dental settings. We describe CDC consultations involving outbreaks or infection control lapses occurring in dental settings to identify areas for prevention efforts. Methods: We reviewed internal CDC records from January 1, 2010, through October 1, 2019, to identify consultations involving investigations of potential or confirmed disease transmission and infection control lapses in dental settings. We determined yearly number of consultations, number of patients infected, how disease transmission or infection control breaches were identified, suspected mode of transmission, type of infection control breaches identified, and whether at-risk patients were notified. Results: We identified 41 consultations, among 27 states, involving investigation of possible disease transmission or infection control lapses in dental facilities. The number of consultations increased from 11 to 30 between the first half (2010–2014) and the second half (2015–2019) of the period and involved at least 113 infections confirmed or suspected to be associated with dental procedures. Most investigations (n = 29, 71%) began with identification of infection control breaches absent known patient infections; 8 (20%) investigations were initiated after identification of a single patient infection raised concerns for possible transmission associated with dental care (eg, single case of acute hepatitis B infection absent other risk factors). Moreover, 4 investigations involved &gt;1 patient infection; 3 were outbreaks confirmed to be due to poor infection control practices. The most common infection control breaches were lapses in dental instrument reprocessing (n = 28, 78%), for example, failure to sterilize dental handpieces or failure to use biologic indicators. Of the 23 consultations where patient notification activities were discussed, 17 (74%) resulted in notification; &gt;20,000 patients received information about their potential exposure, usually accompanied by advice on seeking screening tests. Conclusions: Dental-related consultations have increased in recent years, and they highlight the need for improved infection control training of dental healthcare personnel, especially related to dental instrument reprocessing. The CDC Division of Oral Health and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention offers tools, training, and other resources to help dental facilities improve infection control practices. Not all investigations resulted in notifying at-risk patients, but notification should be strongly considered, especially when serious breaches are identified, to promote transparency and help identify disease transmission that could otherwise go undetected.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Infection Risk of COVID-19 in Dentistry Remains Unknown: A Preliminary Systematic Review.

BackgroundCOVID-19 is a novel viral respiratory disease caused by a member of the coronavirus family, SARS-CoV-2, and has been declared as a pandemic on March 2020. Dental practitioners are routinely exposed to infectious bodily excretions, for example, saliva, blood, and respiratory excretions. Therefore, they are in the first line of SARS-CoV-2 infection-prone health care providers. The purposes of the current review are to trace documented cases of COVID-19 transmission inside dental settings worldwide and to explore the clinical management of these cases.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE and Google Scholar for all possible reported cases of COVID-19 transmission in dental practice as of December 1, 2019, until May 13, 2020. Multiple terms and combinations were used, including “coronavirus,” “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “dental,” “dentistry,” “transmission,” and “nosocomial.” Articles that were not written in English were excluded.ResultsA total of 78 articles were found from December 29, 2019, until May 13, 2020. Of these, 31 articles discussed the risks related to dental practice and recommended infection management protocols for dental health care personnel. Of these articles, only 1 had reported data on transmission of COVID-19 in dental practice. Two possible transmissions of COVID-19 to dental personnel were reported in China before its recognition as an epidemic.ConclusionsAlthough it seems that there are almost no reported cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 during dental treatments, occupational or nosocomial transmission could not be ruled out. Hence, further prospective assessment of COVID-19 transmission is urgently required, and careful and protective measurements are necessary to avoid infection during dental practice.

Exploring Safety Aspects in Dental School Clinics Including Droplet Infection Prevention

BACKGROUND: Health-care safety focuses on improving patient’s and worker’s safety in a safe working clinics’ environment and prevent infection transmission including droplet infections as seasonal influenza and novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Dental health-care personnel (DHCP) are the target of safety measures and are themselves responsible for elimination of preventable harm. Dental schools are expected to demonstrate the model for quality safe care.&#x0D; AIM: This study aims to achieve high-quality safe dental care at dental clinics, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University.&#x0D; METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted at two Dental Outpatient Clinics, Cairo University. Disk review of policies, observation checklists for practices and awareness questionnaires of DHCP were used.&#x0D; RESULTS: DHCP showed good awareness for most of infection control (IC) and X-ray safety items. However, there are no policies or procedures to control droplet infections in the clinics. The clinics were closed in the current COVID-19 pandemic. There were poor patient safety practices, hand hygiene compliance, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use except for protecting clothes and disposable gloves. Students showed better compliance for patient safety guidelines. Other safety policies were poorly communicated.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: There should be preparedness plan to deal with any droplet infection outbreak, epidemic or pandemic as COVID-19 in all dental settings. There is a need to initiate dental safety unit in dental schools to implement, communicate, train, and supervise all dental safety practices including infection control.

COVID-19 Pandemic – Implications, Planning, and Recommendations related to Dental Care Services and Dental Education

During the past few months, our understanding of the transmission, epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and management of Covid-19 has considerably improved. This had made the dental healthcare personnel confident enough and ready to provide safely by implementing efficient prevention and cross-infection control strategies in the dental clinical setting. , At the same time, it is necessary that we must be constantly aware of the continuation of such infectious threats challenging our infection control regimen and preparedness to provide dental treatments and teaching and education. Good infection prevention and control strategies need to be evidence-based and in line with the recommendations of the local and international public health agencies. The disruption in dental services and dental education all over the world resulted in this pandemic has emphasized and resulted in new, innovative and improved infection prevention and control strategies and adoption of alternative teaching, learning and assessment strategies for students. It further reinforces the need for continued research exploring ways for responding better to future contagious disease threats.&#x0D;

Is povidone iodine mouthwash effective against SARS-CoV-2? First in vivo tests.

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has made this biological fluid relevant in terms of the diagnosis and transmission of the infection (To et al, 2020a; Azzi et al, 2020a). As a result, the dental clinic is considered an environment of risk for dental healthcare personnel and their patients, particularly due to the potential transmission of the virus through droplets and aerosols (Peng et al, 2020).