Protective Measures Against COVID-19: Dental Practice and Infection Control

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2021 Jul 2

PMID 34200036

Citations 8

Authors

Sri Nitya Reddy Induri

Yunah Caroline Chun

Joonmo Christopher Chun

Kenneth E Fleisher

Robert S Glickman

Fangxi Xu

Efthimia Ioannidou

Xin Li

Deepak Saxena

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The onset of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged the worldwide healthcare sector, including dentistry. The highly infectious nature of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and risk of transmission through aerosol generating procedures has profoundly impacted the delivery of dental care services globally. As dental practices with renewed infection control strategies and preventive measures are re-opening in the "new normal" period, it is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to constantly analyze new data and limit the spread of COVID-19 in dental care settings. In the light of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 rapidly emerging in different geographic locations, there is an urgent need to comply more than ever with the rigorous public health measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. The aim of this article is to provide dental clinicians with essential information regarding the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus and protective measures against COVID-19 transmission in dental facilities. We complied and provided guidance and standard protocols recommended by credible national and international organizations. This review will serve as an aid to navigating through this unprecedented time with ease. Here we reviewed the available literature recommended for the best current practices that must be taken for a dental office to function safely and successfully.

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