COVID-19 and Dentistry in current practice

Abstract

Introduction: At the end of 2019, in Hubei, located in Wuhan, China, the new coronavirus emerged, called 2019-nCoV, which causes acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and transmitted by inhalation, ingestion and / or direct contact of mucous membranes by saliva. Dental surgeons were identified as the professionals most exposed to the risk of being affected by COVID-19, as they produce aerosolized particles in their work capable of contaminating the environment and people. Objective: To guide dentists, for urgent and emergency clinical action, preventive and recommended measures, in order to reduce the risk of infection. Method: Recent search in the PubMed / MEDLINE database, with the keywords: “COVID-19 and Dentistry” and the inclusion criteria were: articles in English, with full online version, free of charge and articles ahead of print. Results: 35 articles were found related to the theme, of which 13 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected. Conclusion: Biosafety practices, measurement of body temperature and adaptation to tests for COVID-19 can be inserted practices, in the dental context, to help in fighting the pandemic.