Dental practice guidelines in the precariousness of COVID-19: A review

Abstract

The rapid spread of novel corona virus declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation has created a sense of panic across the globe, nor sparing the Dentistry in the process. The mode of transmission of the virus is through infected secretions such as saliva and respiratory secretions or their respiratory droplets, which are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or sings, has created the need to control the contact spread of the infectious virus between humans. This de-manded a responsible emergence of medical as well as Dental care to handle the situation of the pandemic with utmost care. The need for proper guidelines from time to time has been a key to the emerging safe dental practices amongst dental profes-sionals. Focusing not only on the emergencies but also on the routine procedures is a major challenge at the present. The best delivery of dental treatment can only be given when proper protocols are being followed. A crucial aspect being the protection of the spread of the disease from an asymptomatic patient should be considered. This review has been articulated considering the dire need of the hour to protect the dental professionals, the auxiliaries as well as the patient from the infectious spread of the disease. It encourages them to know the various methods of the protective aspects of dentistry amidst this pandemic and its importance in clinical practice. Also, additional aspects of precautions while screening the patient, while performing various procedures and the disinfection of the operatory has been discussed.