COVID-19 Pandemic – A Review with a Dental Perspective

Abstract

Novel betacoronavirus is a recent threat to the global health. It has been identified as the cause of the outbreak of respiratory illness that originated in the city of Wuhan, China and has spread rapidly to several other countries within a short span of time. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces from an infected person, saliva of infected persons has also shown shedding of live virus. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and can even progress to ARDS and septic shock leading to death. All health care professionals including dental surgeons are at a high risk of acquiring the infection. Dental clinics and hospitals carry a high risk of cross-infection. Aggressive preventive and personal protective measures help in preventing exposure to the infection. Dental professionals should adopt various specific preventive methods and treatment strategies to prevent the spread of the infection in a dental setup.