COVID‑19: Implications on dental profession and precautionary guidelines

Abstract

The current global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) and
its associated coronavirus disease (COVID‑19), has grasped the attention of entire international
community and has caused widespread public health concerns. All the efforts taken globally to curtail
the novel COVID‑19; the outbreak is still on a rise owing to the community spread pattern of this
infection. COVID‑19 is a zoonotic infection that, like other coronavirus infections, is believed to have
been originated in bats and pangolins, and later transmitted to humans. Once in the human body, this
coronavirus (SARS‑CoV‑2) is abundantly present in nasopharyngeal and salivary secretions of affected
patients and its spread is predominantly thought to be respiratory droplet in nature. Dental professionals
may soon encounter patients with suspected or confirmed SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and will have to act
carefully not only to provide care but at the same time prevent spread of infection. Thus, the aim of this
article is to provide a brief overview of the epidemiology, symptoms and routes of spread of the novel
COVID‑19 infection. In addition to this, specific recommendations for dental practice are prescribed
for patient screening, infection control strategies, and patient management protocol.
Key Words: Coronavirus, coronavirus disease, dental professional, dentistry, infection control,
pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome