COVID-19 Disease in Children: What Dentists Should Know and Do to Prevent Viral Spread. The Italian Point of View

Gianmaria F. Ferrazzano, Aniello Ingenito and Tiziana Cantile
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Gianmaria F. Ferrazzano: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, School of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80100 Naples, Italy
Aniello Ingenito: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, School of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80100 Naples, Italy
Tiziana Cantile: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, School of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80100 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-6

Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly across the globe, becoming a major public health challenge not for China only, but also for countries around the world. Despite worldwide efforts to contain viral spread, the outbreak has not been stopped yet. Among healthcare personnel, dentists seem to be at elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19. This risk is even more serious in pediatric dentistry, since affected children, frequently, present an asymptomatic, mild or moderate clinical viral infection and, therefore, they may play a major role in community-based COVID-19 transmission. To date, despite no universal guidelines are available for dental procedures in pediatric dentistry during COVID-19 outbreak, routine dental practice should be postponed and only severe dental emergencies must be treated. In the case of a dental emergency, involving a pediatric patient, dentists should be aware of which recommended management protocol can be adopted during the practice to protect patient health, to safeguard their-self and to prevent viral transmission. The aim of this paper is to provide clinical recommendations, presenting a needed tool for dentists to allow a valid and safe how-to-do protocol. Pediatric dentists should keep a high level of awareness to help patients, minimize risk and prevent viral spread.

Keywords: COVID-19; pediatric dentistry; children; oral health; viral spread prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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