Stopping the COVID-19 pandemic in dental offices: A review of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and cross-infection prevention

Abstract

Due to the essential role of dentists in stopping the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this review is to help dentists to detect any weaknesses in their disinfection and cross-contamination prevention protocols, and to triage dental treatments to meet the needs of patients during the pandemic. We used PRISMA to identify peer-reviewed publications which supplemented guidance from the center for disease control about infection control and guidelines for dentists. Dentists must triage dental treatments to meet the needs of patients during the pandemic. The ongoing pandemic has changed the practice of dentistry forever, the changes make it more cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly due to the possible pathways of transmission and mitigation steps needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dental chairside rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. Until then, dentists need to screen patients for COVID-19 even though 75% of people with COVID-19 have no symptoms. Despite the widespread anxiety and fear of the devastating health effects of COVID-19, only 61% of dentists have implemented a change to their treatment protocols. As an urgent matter of public health, all dentists must identify the additional steps they can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The most effective steps to stop the pandemic in dental offices are to; vaccinate all dentists, staff, and patients; triage dental treatments for patients, separate vulnerable patients, separate COVID-19 patients, prevent cross-contamination, disinfect areas touched by patients, maintain social distancing, and change personal protective equipment between patients.

Dental Care and Education Facing Highly Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Prospective Biosafety Setting: Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center Study

“…Dental healthcare professionals, including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and nurses were aware of the high risk of exposure in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic [18,19]. The fact is that dentists are at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 from their patients because of its transmission by respiratory droplets and the use of dental handpieces that can generate aerosols [20,21], as well as the physical proximity of their patients [19,22,23]. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and possible correction of negligence in daily dental practice [24].…”

Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among Pediatric Dentists during Lockdown Period

“…A German study [ 43 ] reported that an additional measure includes compound daily patient care and patient time required with established infection control protocols are required in the dental operatory. An American study [ 44 ] reported that it is imperative to maintain social distancing and changes of personal protection equipment for every patient. In the present study, more than 80% of the pediatric dentist felt the use of PPE and social distancing is compulsory to avoid cross-contamination of COVID-19.…”

Dentistry after Omicron variant: Introducing a New Biosafety Protocol in Prevention of COVID-19 in Dental Care

“…Dental healthcare professionals -including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and nurses were aware of high risk of exposure in the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic [13,14]. It is known that dentists have a high risk of contracting COVID-19 from their patients because of its transmission by respiratory droplets and the use of dental handpieces that can generate aerosols [15,16] as well as the physical proximity to their patients [14,17,18]. Not all dental practices considered a transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as a real risk for them or their patient.…”

“…Despite the widespread anxiety and fear of the devastating health effects of COVID-19, only 61% of dentists have implemented a fundamental modification to their treatment protocols. Facing the highly infectious Omicron strain, as an urgent matter of public health, all dentists must identify the additional steps they can take to prevent the spread of infection [16]. A clinical practice guidelines used in the first year of pandemic might change with a new more infectious variants.…”

“…Research published by Estrich et al, 2020 found in June 2020 through web-based survey that during the first wave of pandemic only 0.3% of surveyed dentists had a probable COVID-19 diagnosis, from these 82.2% were asymptomatic. The most commonly reported health problems among dentists during pandemics were anxiety and depression [16,68].…”