Biosecurity Perspectives in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in Times of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a Literature Review

Nelí Pieralisi; Gustavo Nascimento de Souza-Pinto; Lilian Cristina Vessoni Iwaki; Mariliani Chicarelli-Silva & Elen de Souza Tolentino

Summary

The aim of this work was to report biosecurity measures in the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) clinic in the current context of COVID-19, based on a literature review. An electronic search for scientific papers was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus database. Although the literature related to care in the OMR clinic regarding COVID-19 is still scarce, this unprecedented scenario created by the pandemic generated an urgent need for measures to prevent the transmission of the virus. Dentists are at maximum risk of contagion and, although the practice of OMR generally does not produce aerosols, radiologists and technicians are continually in contact with body fluids, such as saliva. In addition, imaging exams are often indispensable for emergency or elective dental diagnosis and treatment. Training in infection control practices during major outbreaks of infectious diseases should be quickly reinforced and dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations. Some recommendations have been proposed and were discussed, which cover patient flow, equipment handling and environment, radiographic technique and processing, personal protective equipment and preparation and issuance of radiological reports and access to exam results. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, biosecurity measures in the routine of the OMR clinic are indispensable to enable emergency dental care and the perspectives of returning to elective treatment. Biosecurity measures and staff training at the OMR clinic should be instituted immediately, since imaging exams are an important and often indispensable part of dental diagnosis and treatment.

KEY WORDS: biosecurity, COVID-19, dental clinic, oral radiology., SARS- CoV-2, cirugía oral y maxilofacial, epidemiología, trauma maxilofacial, infección.

How to cite this article

PIERALISI, N.; SOUZA-PINTO, G. N.; IWAKI, V. L. C.; CHICARELLI-SILVA, M. & TOLENTINO, S. E. Biosecurity perspectives in oral and maxillofacial radiology in times of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a literature review. Int. J. Odontostomat., 15(1):77-81, 2021.