Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2020; 10(02): 49-56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713835
Review Article

Coronavirus and Its Impact on Dental Fraternity

Krishna Prasad D
1   Department of Prosthodontics, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Anupama Prasad D 
1   Department of Prosthodontics, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Mayank Kumar Parakh
1   Department of Prosthodontics, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic the world is currently facing head on. It is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). No current vaccine is available nor a curative treatment option is available at present, thus making it even more important to prevent the disease. Since dentists are in very close contact with their patients and there is aerosol production in various dental treatments, they are at a heightened risk of contracting the disease. To prevent the disease, strict hand and respiratory hygiene needs to be followed. Personal protective equipment should be used for any emergency procedures and thorough history must be taken of every patient. Digitalization of seminars and classes has been adopted by various dental institutions. With high infectivity of the virus, social distancing and stringent prevention protocols can help in controlling this severe global threat.

Keywords

coronavirus - COVID-19 - dentistry - infectious disease


Publication History

Article published online:
20 June 2020

© .

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it. Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 2 Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Available at: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—11-march-2020. Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 3 WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20200131005904/https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov). Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 4 Coronavirus disease. 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 78. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200407-sitrep-78-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=bc43e1b_2. Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 5 Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D. Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Available at: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540747/all/Coronavirus_COVID_19__SARS_CoV_2_. Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 6 Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci 2020; 12 (01) 9
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Harrel SK, Molinari J. Aerosols and splatter in dentistry: a brief review of the literature and infection control implications. J Am Dent Assoc 2004; 135 (04) 429-437
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Cheng VC, Lau SK, Woo PC, Yuen KY. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus as an agent of emerging and reemerging infection. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007; 20 (04) 660-694
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 de Wilde AH, Snijder EJ, Kikkert M, van Hemert MJ. Host factors in coronavirus replication. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 419: 1-42
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Liu J, Liao X, Qian S. et al. Community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Shenzhen, China, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26 (06) 1320-1323
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Ong SWX, Tan YK, Chia PY. et al. Air, surface environmental, and personal protective equipment contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a symptomatic patient. JAMA 2020; 323 (16) 1610-1612
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Zhang Y, Chen C, Zhu S. et al. [Isolation of 2019-nCoV from a stool specimen of a laboratory-confirmed case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. China CDC Weekly 2020; 2 (08) 123-124 (in Chinese)
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Li Q, Guan X, Wu P. et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med 2020; 382 (13) 1199-1207
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses#:~:text=symptoms. Accessed April 19, 2020
  • 15 Phan LT, Nguyen TV, Luong QC. et al. Importation and human-to-human transmission of a novel coronavirus in Vietnam. N Engl J Med 2020; 382 (09) 872-874
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Li T, Wei C, Li W, Hongwei F, Shi J. Beijing Union Medical College Hospital on “pneumonia of novel coronavirus infection” diagnosis and treatment proposal (V2.0). MedJPeking Union Med Coll Hosp. 2020. Available at: http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/11.5882.r.20200130.1430.002.html. Accessed April 20, 2020
  • 17 Wang W, Xu Y, Gao R. et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in different types of clinical specimens. JAMA 2020; 323 (18) 1843-1844
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Wu Y, Guo C, Tang L. et al. Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 5 (05) 434-435
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Information for clinicians on investigational therapeutics for patients with COVID-19. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/therapeutic-options.html. Accessed April 20, 2020
  • 20 World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care. Available at: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrxiDI5dOBehnoA4Sa7HAx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByaW0wdmlxBGNvbG8Dc2czBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1591796922/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.who.int%2fcsr%2fresources%2fpublications%2fWHO_CDS_EPR_2007_6c.pdf%3fua%3d1/RK=2/RS=r4iJZeQO99jxs8DmXnVR4eaNzM0. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 21 WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care: first global patient safety challenge – clean care is safer care. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44102. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 22 Minimum requirements for infection prevention and control. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Available at: https://www.who.int/infectionprevention/ publications/min-req-IPC-manual/en/. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 23 WHO. (2015a). Health-care waste. Fact sheet no. 253. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/ factsheets/fs253/en/. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 24 Safe management of wastes from health-care activities: a summary. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/259491. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 25 Clinical questions about COVID-19: questions and answers. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html. Accessed April 21, 2020
  • 26 Indian Dental Association. Guidelines for dental professionals on the coronavirus threat. Available at: https://www.ida.org.in/pdf/IDA_Recommendations_for_Dental_Professionals_on_the_Coronavirus_Threat.pdf. Accessed April 8, 2020
  • 27 Xu J, Li Y, Gan F, Du Y, Yao Y. Salivary glands: potential reservoirs for COVID-19 asymptomatic infection. J Dent Res 2020; 99 (08) 989
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Slots J, Jorgensen MG. Efficient antimicrobial treatment in periodontal maintenance care. J Am Dent Assoc 2000; 131 (09) 1293-1304
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Li RW, Leung KW, Sun FC, Samaranayake LP. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the GDP. Part II: implications for GDPs. Br Dent J 2004; 197 (03) 130-134
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Extra oral suction unit. Available at: https://www.unicorndenmart.com/dental-suctions/external-oral-suction-ds1000. Accessed May 17, 2020
  • 31 Dentists advised to mind “settle time” after generating aerosols. Available at: https://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/industrynews/item/6368-dentists-advised-to-mind-settle-time-after-generating-aerosols. Accessed May 17, 2020
  • 32 Gupta H. COVID-19: Dental treatment during and after pandemic. Available at: https://dantkritidentalclinic.com/blog/covid-19-dental-treatment-during-and-after-pandemic/. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 33 Kirk-Bayley J. Challacombe S, Sunkaraneni V, Combes J. The use of povidone iodine nasal spray and mouthwash during the current COVID-19 pandemic may protect healthcare workers and reduce cross infection (March 28, 2020). Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3563092. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 34 Coronavirus: India enters ‘total lockdown’ after spike in cases. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52024239. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 35 Coronavirus screening: Kerala hospital develops walk-in kiosk for safer sample collection sans PPEs. Available at: https://www.news18.com/news/india/coronavirus-screening-kerala-hosp-develops-walk-in-sample-kiosk-for-safer-sample-collection-sans-ppes-2566807.html. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 36 COVID-19 effect: schools shut, colleges conducting online classes; get latest updates here. Available at: https://www.shiksha.com/boards/articles/covid-19-effect-schools-shut-colleges-conducting-online-classes-get-latest-updates-here-blogId-32375. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 37 Post-corona, dentists are going to stare down a cavity. Available at: https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/post-corona-dentists-are-going-to-stare-down-a-cavity/articleshow/75563838.cms. Accessed May 9, 2020
  • 38 Advisory: dental clinics protocols. Available at: http://dciindia.gov.in/Admin/NewsArchives/Dental%20Clinics%20Protocols%20Final.pdf. Accessed May 9, 2020
  • 39 Covid Guide IPS. Basic safety and handling protocol issued by the Indian Prosthodontic Society. Available at: http://kpjonline.com/IPS_Covid_Protocol.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2020
  • 40 Thomé G, Bernardes S, Guandalini S, Guimarães MCV. Guidelines for best practice in biosafety at the dental clinic. E book. Straumann Group 2020
  • 41 Combating Covid 19: Kerala develops disinfection gateway. Available at: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/combating-covid-19-kerala-develops-disinfection-gateway-120040700412_1.html. Accessed April 9, 2020
  • 42 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Testing: status update. Available at: https://icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/whats_new/ICMR_testing_update_08April_9PM_IST.pdf. Accessed on April 9, 2020