31/03/2020
Due to the characteristics of dental settings, the risk of cross-infection can be high between patients and dental practitioners.
The participants in dental practice are exposed to tremendous risk of COVID-19 infection due to face-to-face communication and the exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, and the handling of sharp instruments.
Dental professionals play great roles in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. In dental procedures where a large number of droplets and aerosols could be generated, the standard protective measures in daily clinical work are not effective enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially when patients are in the incubation period, unaware they are infected or choose to conceal their infection.
Therefore, it is essential for dentists to refine preventive strategies to avoid the COVID-19 infection by focusing on patient placement, efficient infection control protocols and by means of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Stay safe, our dear doctors!