Recommendations, Practices and Infrastructural Model for the Dental Radiology Set-up in Clinical and Academic Institutions in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The pandemic of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as a global catastrophe that is plaguing mankind. In the past eight months since the world discovered about COVID-19, we learned a lot about server acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) and perhaps there is much more to discover and understand about the virus. With the current understanding of the disease, we assume it will remain in an active state of transmission and progression among the community for a long time. Thus, it is advisable to adopt the disease’s prevention protocol in our daily and work routine. During this pandemic patient requiring dental treatment cannot be neglected and the role of dental imaging is crucial in delivering treatment. Hence, this article attempts to provide an evidence-based compilation about the mode of transmission and clinical features of COVID-19. It also throws light on the potential source of disease transmission in the dental radiology setting. In addition, it suggests preventive measures to curb the infection and infrastructural model of the clinical setting that will assist in achieving control over the disease transmission. This article intends to project a strategy about protocols, infrastructure, and daily activities in a dental radiology office that institutions can adopt with modifications according to their local scenario.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 among dental health care professionals: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

“…As per recent recommendations, 5 a screening triage should be established to obtain information related to symptoms, medical history, travel history and close contact with suspected cases of COVID-19. 42 Despite a screening protocol, a recent travel history may place a patient in the high-risk category. Kamate et al 16 found that 92.6% of DHCPs record travel history as a screening protocol to aid in the diagnosis and prevention of disease transmission.…”

“…Thus, wearing goggles and shields can prevent the virus from coming into contact with the conjunctiva epithelium. 42,44 Therefore, DHCPs should focus on procedures that produce fewer aerosols, 5,10,45 which could help to reduce disease transmission. This is in consensus with the guidelines of the CDC, the WHO and various dental societies.…”

COVID-19 and Mucormycosis of Orofacial Region: A Scoping Review

“…Facial, nasal, and oral deformities can occur during surgical treatment of ROCM [8,44]. Finally, proper control of infections by dental surgeons/oral pathologists/oral radiologists/technicians is a must and they should follow everything according to new guidelines in a COVID-19 scenario from handling a patient to various dental procedures/radiological procedures whether in a dental setup or academic institute [46].…”

Optimizing Safe Dental Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations Based on a Guide Developed for Dental Practices in China

“…Concomitantly, since it is necessary to put the sensor into the patient's mouth, there is also a risk of cross-infection. Dental panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography are, therefore, recommended during the pandemic ( 100 , 101 ). However, some dental clinics are less equipped and only have intraoral radiography.…”