Findings in COVID-19 cases and protocols to be followed in dental operatories

Abstract

Coronavirus-causing pandemic flu known as COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and since then has spread worldwide. It is a single-stranded RNA virus of betacoronavirus family ranging from 60 to 140 nm in diameter. Its genome is similar to that of SARS and MERS. Patients present with fever, cough, malaise, headache, etc., Various tests such as nucleic acid testing, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and antibody testing are available. Laboratory tests show leukocytosis with lymphopenia and occasionally thrombocytopenia. Few biomarkers such as ferritin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 are under study to predict the outcome of patients. Mainly, the virus is seen affecting the lungs with hyaline membrane formation, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Cases affecting kidney and gastrointestinal system are also seen. Self-quarantine and social distancing are effective measures to prevent the spread of this disease. The spread of coronavirus has posed significant challenges for dentistry and medicine. Most of the dental procedures are aerosol producing called as bioaerosols which consist of particles from saliva, blood, dental plaque, calculus, gingival fluid, oronasal secretions and microparticles from tooth preparation. This review gives an insight on the ways to reduce aerosols, standard measures and protocols to be followed to maintain the hygiene levels in the operatory, and the ways to reduce the viral load in this COVID era to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 via human-to-human transmissions.