COVID-19: Present and Future Challenges for Dental Practice

Najla Dar-Odeh, Hamzah Babkair, Shaden Abu-Hammad, Sary Borzangy, Abdalla Abu-Hammad and Osama Abu-Hammad
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Najla Dar-Odeh: College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Hamzah Babkair: College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Shaden Abu-Hammad: School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Sary Borzangy: College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia
Abdalla Abu-Hammad: School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Osama Abu-Hammad: College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara 43353, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, with a high fatality rate that may reach 8%. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2 which is one of the coronaviruses. Realizing the severity of outcomes associated with this disease and its high rate of transmission, dentists were instructed by regulatory authorities, such as the American Dental Association, to stop providing treatment to dental patients except those who have emergency complaints. This was mainly for protection of dental healthcare personnel, their families, contacts, and their patients from the transmission of virus, and also to preserve the much-needed supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Dentists at all times should competently follow cross-infection control protocols, but particularly during this critical time, they should do their best to decide on the emergency cases that are indicated for dental treatment. Dentists should also be updated on how this pandemic is related to their profession in order to be well oriented and prepared. This overview will address several issues concerned with the COVID-19 pandemic that directly relate to dental practice in terms of prevention, treatment, and orofacial clinical manifestations.

Keywords: COVID-19; dentistry; oral; manifestations; saliva; aerosol (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 (8)

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