Being a front-line dentist during the Covid-19 pandemic: a literature review
Open Access
- 24 April 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Nature in Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Vol. 42 (1), 1-9
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-020-00256-5
Abstract
Coronavirus is an enveloped virus with positive-sense single-stranded RNA. Coronavirus infection in humans mainly affects the upper respiratory tract and to a lesser extent the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical symptoms of coronavirus infections can range from relatively mild (similar to the common cold) to severe (bronchitis, pneumonia, and renal involvement). The disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was called Covid-19 by the World Health Organization in February 2020. Face-to-face communication and consistent exposure to body fluids such as blood and saliva predispose dental care workers at serious risk for 2019-nCoV infection. As demonstrated by the recent coronavirus outbreak, information is not enough. During dental practice, blood and saliva can be scattered. Accordingly, dental practice can be a potential risk for dental staff, and there is a high risk of cross-infection. This article addresses all information collected to date on the virus, in accordance with the guidelines of international health care institutions, and provides a comprehensive protocol for managing possible exposure to patients or those suspected of having coronavirus.Keywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- Epithelial Cells Lining Salivary Gland Ducts Are Early Target Cells of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in the Upper Respiratory Tracts of Rhesus MacaquesJournal of Virology, 2011
- Coronaviruses in Children, GreeceEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2007
- Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Transmission via Dental Handpieces and Evaluation of an Antisuction Device for Prevention of TransmissionInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2007
- Coronavirus Pathogenesis and the Emerging Pathogen Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronavirusMicrobiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 2005
- Croup Is Associated with the Novel Coronavirus NL63PLoS Medicine, 2005
- Multiple organ infection and the pathogenesis of SARSThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2005
- Human Coronavirus NL63 Infection in CanadaThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2005
- The Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeNew England Journal of Medicine, 2003
- Coronavirus 229E-Related Pneumonia in Immunocompromised PatientsClinical Infectious Diseases, 2003
- A Cluster of Cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Hong KongNew England Journal of Medicine, 2003