Managing dental caries against the backdrop of COVID-19: approaches to reduce aerosol generation

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in severe limitation and closure of dental practices in many countries. Outside of the acute (peak) phases of the disease, dentistry has begun to be practised again. However, there is emerging evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via airborne routes, carrying implications for dental procedures that produce aerosol. At the time of writing, additional precautions are required when a procedure considered to generate aerosol is undertaken. This paper aims to present evidence-based treatments that remove or reduce the generation of aerosols during the management of carious lesions. It maps aerosol generating procedures (AGPs), where possible, to alternative non-AGPs or low AGPs. This risk reduction approach overcomes the less favourable outcomes associated with temporary solutions or extraction-only approaches. Even if this risk reduction approach for aerosol generation becomes unnecessary in the future, these procedures are not only suitable but desirable for use as part of general dental care post-COVID-19.