Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Dental Clinic: The Future Challenge in Resuming Clinical Practice

• Main Authors: Manjula S, D. R. Mahadeshwara Prasad, Chandan S N, Sahith Kumar Shetty, Shyam Sundar S, Shivananda S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Dental Hypotheses
• Subjects: coronavirus; dental health; infection control; sars-cov-2; transmission in dental practice
• Online Access: http://www.dentalhypotheses.com/article.asp?issn=2155-8213;year=2020;volume=11;issue=4;spage=121;epage=125;aulast=S

In the present scenario, the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is responsible for simple upper respiratory infection to fatal pneumonia and multi-organ failure has become a major public health challenge and a public health emergency of international concern. Apart from secondary and tertiary care, it is very much essential to provide primary care, prevention, and early detection. To prevent the virus from the human-human transmission and to control the situation, the protocols vary at various setups. Due to the uniqueness of dental settings and practice, the risk of cross-infection can be high between patients and dental practitioners. Establishment of strict and effective infection control protocol is necessary owing to the varying sustainability of the virus on different surfaces. The area of concern for a dental professional is the oral cavity and upper respiratory region where the host recipient cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor 2, is present abundantly acts as the host cell entry route for the coronavirus. Dental professionals play an important role in preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2; we aim to review the infection control measures in dental practice.