Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused routine dental check-ups to be cancelled. The main cause is poor aerosol control in the dental office. Aerosols released by dental instruments are essential for the removal of diseased oral tissues. However, when mixed with saliva or contaminated blood, aerosols can spread infectious microorganisms out of the patient’s mouth. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in the self-collected saliva of 91.7 % of patients. This article presents evidence and reflections for the control of dental aerosol, which could allow increasing the safety of dental practice during the pandemic and post-pandemic.
KEY WORDS: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, dentistry, aerosols.
How to cite this article
RIVERA, C. Dental aerosols in the context of COVID19 pandemic. Int. J. Odontostomat., 14(4):519-522, 2020.
