Guideline for Dental Care During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.617.63

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Dental Care, Aerosols, Biosafety

Abstract

In December 2019, SARS-CoV-2, a new type of coronavirus of the Coronaviridae family of the ?-CoV genes, was identified for the first time in Wuhan, China. On March 11th 2020,
WHO declared it a pandemic, and by December 19th 2021, 192 countries have been affected,
with 235 547 850 confirmed cases and 4.811.951 deaths. SARS-CoV-2 affects humans, regardless of gender, race or age, but people with comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or diabetes Mellitus have a worse prognosis. Among the routes of
transmission from person to person we find direct contact with mucous membranes, and by inhalation of aerosols or saliva. Therefore, by just using surgical masks, gloves, and protective
screens, some of the professionals with the highest risk of contagion are dentists,
since in addition to being in direct contact with the patient, most of the time, they are also
in direct contact with the materials contaminated with the patient's fluids and aerosols,
that are generated in some of the procedures. A bibliographic search was carried out in
PubMed, JOMOS, NIH and CDC, to analyze the data found, in order to propose the most
adaptable changes to our environment. The objective of this work is to review the most
recent and relevant information about the care in dental clinics in times of SARS-CoV-2, and to propose some structural changes in dental care to guarantee the biosecurity of patients,
dental staff, and human talent present at the dental clinic.

Author Biographies

Alexandra Melissa Corrales Castañeda, Estudiante Pregrado Odontología Universidad del Norte

Estudiante Programa de Odontología Universidad del Norte. Barranquilla (Colombia).

Hugo Palacio Blanco, Odontólogo Periodoncista

Docente de pregrado y posgrado Universidad Metropolitana. Docente Universidad
del Magdalena 2009-2018. Docente Programa Odontología Universidad del Norte.
Barranquilla (Colombia).

Martha Rebolledo Cobos, Odontóloga especialista en Estomatología y Cirugía Oral

Líder de Grupo GIBAC Fundación Universitaria San Martin, sede Puerto Colombia.
Directora de Investigación Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud.

Martha Carmona Lorduy, Odontóloga Especialista en Estomatología y Cirugía Oral

Docente Titular Facultad Odontología Universidad de Cartagena. Investigadora
GITOUC. Docente catedrático Programa Odontología Universidad del Norte.

Published

2022-01-19

How to Cite

Corrales Castañeda, A. M., Palacio Blanco, H., Rebolledo Cobos, M., & Carmona Lorduy, M. (2022). Guideline for Dental Care During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Salud Uninorte, 37(3), 715–739. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.617.63