COVID-19 patient in a dental office – literature review

ntroduction. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus affected the functioning of dental care. Dentists performing procedures in the patient’s respiratory tract, creating an aerosol, constitute a group of high risk of infection. Over the years, the universal way of cross-matching has changed. Objective. The aim of the study is to review the current literature and present the impact of the pandemic on dental practices, and the introduced new solutions to existing procedures to prevent infections among workers and patients. State of knowledge. Dental office workers are exposed to a virus with a high potential for spreading among the population. Most of the infected patients (80%) are asymptomatic, therefore each patient should be treated as a potential carrier of SARS- COV-2. Practice rooms should be adapted by removing unnecessary items, such as newspapers and brochures. Providing a higher level of personal protective equipment, minimum FFP, and covering the body surface create a physical barrier against this pathogen. It is recommended to use manual intruments instead of mechanical ones which generate aerosol during dental procedures. Non-contact channels of communication with the patient (teledentistry) eliminate the risk of infection and should be used in the initial patient assessment and medical advice that does not require a personal visit. Conclusions. In the face of the pandemic caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus, it is the duty of dentists to properly prepare their offices, provide personal protective equipment to medical staff and patients, and adapt medical procedures to combat the epidemic situation. Dentists should also use teledentistry, which, with certain limitations, allows them to help patients without the risk of transmitting the virus.