COVID-19 in dental practice – An overview of challenges and preventive measures

Main Article Content

Dáurea Adília Cóbe Sena
Caio Cesar da Silva Barros
Larissa Santos Amaral Rolim
Leão Pereira Pinto
Lélia Batista de Batista
Éricka Janine Dantas da Silveira

Abstract

COVID-19 was identified to be caused by a new coronavirus named as SARS-CoV-2. Since the outbreak of this disease, World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency. SARS-CoV-2 has a high estimate rate of human-to-human transmission mainly through inhalation/ingestion/direct mucous contact with respiratory droplets. Considering this high transmission capacity, several countries have already registered cases of infection by health professionals. Even though dentists are not directly involved in the diagnosis and therapy of COVID-19 they represent undoubtedly a risk group due to high exposure and their work environment is a contagion factor for patients and staff. In this manner, the objective of this article is to approach important aspects of COVID-19 concerning dental care and provides an overview of its challenges on dental practice. For this, we used these following keywords in our research: COVID-19; dental general practice; prevention and control; infectious disease transmission; infectious disease transmission, patient to professional. Taking into account the global concern with patient care in midst of this pandemic, we address valid concerns regarding the potential means of contamination in the dental office and highlight practices and guidelines adopted in different countries to minimize risks in dental care in this global public health crisis, thus, reinforcing the challenges of dentistry in this context, highlighting the importance of rigorous preventive measures. However, there is still a lack of standardization of dental care protocols and consequently, reduce the risk of contagion.

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How to Cite
Sena, D. A. C., Barros, C. C. da S., Rolim, L. S. A., Pinto, L. P., Batista, L. B. de, & Silveira, Éricka J. D. da. (2021). COVID-19 in dental practice – An overview of challenges and preventive measures. ABCS Health Sciences, 46, e021305. https://doi.org/10.7322/abcshs.2020145.1594
Section
Review Articles

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