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Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B logoLink to Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B
. 2020 May;21(5):361–368. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B2010010

Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry*

Zi-yu Ge 1, Lu-ming Yang 1, Jia-jia Xia 1, Xiao-hui Fu 1, Yan-zhen Zhang 1,†,‡
PMCID: PMC7089481  PMID: 32425001

Abstract

Since its emergence in December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted several countries, affecting more than 90 thousand patients and making it a global public threat. The routes of transmission are direct contact, and droplet and possible aerosol transmissions. Due to the unique nature of dentistry, most dental procedures generate significant amounts of droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and correction of negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, some special precautions that should be implemented during an outbreak have been raised in this review.

Keywords: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Aerosol, Infection control

1. Introduction

By the end of 2019, a pneumonia outbreak with unknown etiology occurred in Wuhan, China. Most of the cases were linked to a local seafood market selling live animals, suggesting that the pathogens were transmitted from animals to humans, soon escalating to human-to-human transmission. The pathogen was identified and named as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and the disease was named corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) report, as of Mar. 6, 2020, there are 98 192 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3380 deaths, of which 80 711 were reported in the Chinese Mainland and 17 481 in other 89 countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, etc. (WHO, 2020b), resulting in a mortality rate of 2% (Ng et al., 2020) and reproduction number of 1.4–5.5 (Chen, 2020). As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, global health, economic development, and even social stability are falling under immense pressure. On Jan. 31, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 crisis as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”

As stated in the 6th Edition of COVID-19 Treatment Regimen (Trial Implementation) published by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (2020), the possible routes of 2019-nCoV transmission are mainly direct contact and droplet transmission. Aerosol transmission is also a possible route of transmission when there is an exposure to high concentrations of aerosols in a relatively closed environment. Routine dental procedures generate aerosols, which pose potential risks to the dental care personnel and patients. Although there are no reported cases of coronavirus transmission in a dental setting, given the high transmissibility of the disease, dental teams should be alert and maintain a healthy environment for both the patients and themselves. Therefore, understanding aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry is essential. In addition to standard precautions, some special precautions should also be implemented during this special period.

2. Aerosol transmission and its implication in dentistry

2.1. Droplets and aerosols and their significance in the transmission of diseases

When a person coughs, sneezes, laughs, or talks, large (>5 μm diameter) and small (≤5 μm diameter) droplets or aerosols are generated. Due to gravity, larger droplets fall to the ground quickly; therefore, droplet transmission requires close physical proximity between an infected individual and a susceptible individual. On the other hand, small droplets or small particle residues of evaporated droplets have a low settling velocity, so they may remain in the air for a longer time and travel further before they can enter the respiratory tract or contaminate surfaces (WHO, 2014) (Fig. 1). Results from some studies have shown that aerosols from highly virulent pathogens like severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) can travel more than six feet (Kutter et al., 2018).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Different routes of transmission in dental setting: aerosol, droplet, and fomite

Contaminated surfaces have been found to be a route of transmission of several nosocomial pathogens (Otter et al., 2013). Although human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have limited capacity to survive on a dry surface, several studies have reported that they can persist on a surface for a few days, particularly when suspended in human secretion, and undergo onward transmission (Kramer et al., 2006; Otter et al., 2013). Hand contact with contaminated surfaces may lead to pathogen acquisition and transfer to the eyes, nose, or mouth, resulting in a new case of infection (Otter et al., 2013).

2.2. Droplets and aerosols in dental setting

When performing dental procedures with a high-speed handpiece, friction between the tooth and the rapidly rotating bur would create excessive heat. Without a coolant, the heat could cause damage to hard dental tissue and lead to pathological changes to the dental pulp. Therefore, to prevent heat gain, it is a universal consensus to use a water coolant when performing dental procedures, including tooth preparation, oral prophylaxis, and oral surgery (Farah, 2019), as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Aerosols generated by dental high-speed handpiece (a), ultrasonic scaler (b), and air-water syringe (c)

The water coolant, however, could generate aerosols. When combined with bodily fluids in the oral cavity, such as blood and saliva, bioaerosols are created. These bioaerosols are commonly contaminated with bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and have the potential to float in the air for a considerable amount of time and be inhaled by the dentists or other patients (Grenier, 1995; Jones and Brosseau, 2015).

A review conducted by Zemouri et al. (2017) showed that 38 types of microorganisms could be found in the air of the dental clinic, including Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of severe pneumonia. There have been reports of patients acquiring pneumonia after being treated at a dental clinic (Ricci et al., 2012). Another group in the UK reported an outbreak of tuberculosis among dental patients who acquired the infection at their local dentist (Smith et al., 1982). In terms of coronavirus, a study conducted by Wang et al. (2004) examined the oral cavity of SARS patients and found large amount of SARS-CoV RNA in their saliva ((7.08×103) to (6.38×108) copies/mL), suggesting the possibility of coronavirus transmission through oral droplets. Past evidence showed that the majority of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV cases were associated with nosocomial transmission in hospitals, resulting, partly, from the use of aerosol-generating procedures performed on patients with respiratory disease (Chowell et al., 2015). Based on the current epidemiological data, 2019-nCoV has higher transmissibility than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV (Chen, 2020). Therefore, modification of standard precaution and infection control regimen targeted toward 2019-nCoV is essential during this outbreak.

3. Special precautions in dental setting

The outbreak of COVID-19 has clearly placed health professionals at risk. Infection with 2019-nCoV has been detected in health care workers (HCWs), and the number of such cases is gradually increasing (Li et al., 2020). Based on the information extracted from China’s Infectious Disease Information System, a total of 1716 HCWs have been infected with 2019-nCoV, with five reported deaths (The Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Emergency Response Epidemiology Team, 2020). Ensuring health and personal safety for HCWs is essential, as an infected HCW could also posit a source of cross-transmission.

Fortunately, there are no reported cases of COVID-19 transmission in the dental setting. Nevertheless, with the given evidence that the incubation period lasts up to 14 d (Jin et al., 2020), it is not always possible to identify asymptotic carriers early or without testing. Furthermore, there has been a report of infection transmission from asymptomatic contact, implying that COVID-19 is contagious during the incubation period (Rothe et al., 2020). Thus, aside from following the principle of universal precaution, special precautionary measures targeted toward aerosol transmission should also be taken to prevent and control the spread of this highly contagious disease. Interestingly, a group of scientists from China have reported that the cell receptor for 2019-nCoV infection, angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), is highly expressed on the mucosa of the oral cavity. Notably, this receptor is present in large amounts in the epithelial cells of the tongue (Xu et al., 2020). These findings indicate that the oral cavity is a potentially high-risk transmitter of 2019-nCoV infection and can be used in future prevention strategies in the dental/clinical setting.

During routine dental practice, guidelines of the Clinical Technique for Oral Medicine (2017 Edition) and Clinical Treatment Guidance for Oral Medicine (2016 Edition) produced by Chinese Stomatological Association, and Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings produced by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC) are usually followed as “standard precautions” of infection control (Chinese Stomatological Association, 2017, 2016; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). In light of the continuously updated epidemiological data on COVID-19, here, we propose several special precautions in addition to the “standard precautions” that can be applied in dental care settings during this outbreak. Our recommendations are based on the COVID-19 interim guidance set forth by the WHO (2020c) and our own current clinical practice in China.

3.1. Special precautions in dental emergency during COVID-19 outbreak

Due to the special characteristics of dentistry and the high transmissibility of COVID-19, dental hospitals and clinics around China are temporarily closed to prevent the potential risk of transmission. However, there are dental emergencies that require immediate treatment and control, such as trauma, fascial space infection, and carcinoma. Therefore, special precautions should be followed when treating dental emergencies.

1. Patient screening: As is the routine, dentists should take a thorough medical history from each patient and confirm the health status at each recall visit. During this outbreak, targeted screening questions for COVID-19 must be asked. These questions should include personal, travel, and epidemiological history. Temperature and lower respiratory tract symptoms should be closely monitored. Note that symptoms of fever and fatigue could be caused by acute dental infection; therefore, the etiology should be confirmed.

2. For patients whose infections are dental in origin, emergency treatments could be performed following standard dental emergency regimen.

3. For suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19 that are medically stable, laboratory tests and multidisciplinary team consultations should be performed. To ensure the safety of patients and HCWs, the patient should be rescheduled after the outbreak if required.

4. For suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19 requiring urgent dental treatment, highest level of personal protection should be implemented. To facilitate natural ventilation, WHO (2020a) recommends the use of a negative pressure room with a minimum of 12 air changes per hour or at least 160 L/s per patient. Mechanical ventilation should commence before treating the next patient.

3.2. Special precautions in routine practice

3.2.1 Waiting area

Post a cough etiquette instruction at the entrance of the waiting room. Ensure that all patients cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing; instruct them to dispose used tissues into a waste bin immediately after use and ensure hand hygiene.

Patients should be placed in an adequately ventilated waiting area. For rooms with natural ventilation, 60 L/s per patient is considered adequate ventilation (Atkinson et al., 2009).

Spatial separation of at least 1 m should be maintained between patients.

Equipment such as blood pressure cuffs and thermometers should be cleaned and disinfected with 70% ethyl alcohol after each use, as recommended by the WHO (2016).

3.2.2 Hand hygiene

There is a growing awareness of the importance of handwashing in the prevention of acute respiratory infections. During the outburst of SARS, several epidemiological studies suggested that handwashing with soap and 70%–90% alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) was effective in curbing SARS transmission (Rabenau et al., 2005; Fung and Cairncross, 2006).

The WHO (2020c) stated that hand hygiene includes either cleansing hands with an ABHR or with soap and water; both methods are equally effective. ABHRs are preferred if the hands are not visibly soiled; if the hands are visibly soiled, water and soap should be used.

As suggested by WHO (2009), hand hygiene should be performed before touching a patient, before any cleaning or aseptic procedure is performed, after exposure to body fluid, after touching a patient, and after touching a patient’s surroundings.

3.2.3 Personal protective equipment

During dental practices, the spread of oral microorganisms mostly radiates toward the dentist’s face, particularly in the inner part of the eyes and around the nose, which are important areas for infection transmission (Bentley et al., 1994; Nejatidanesh et al., 2013). Personal protective equipment (PPE) can form an effective barrier against most hazards of aerosols generated from the operative site.

1. Protective eyewear and face shields: It is clinically evident that COVID-19 may also be transmitted through contact with the mucous membranes in eyes, as infectious droplets could easily contaminate the human conjunctival epithelium (Lu et al., 2020). To protect the eyes from aerosols and debris created during dental procedure, protective eyewear or face shield should be worn throughout the treatment and disinfected between patients.

2. Face masks: At minimum, a medical mask (surgical or procedure mask) was used if working at a distance of less than 1 m from the patient. When performing aerosol generating procedures (using high-speed handpiece, air-water syringe, and ultrasonic scaler), a particulate respirator that is at least as protective as a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified N95, European Standard Filtering Face Piece 2 (EU FFP2), or equivalent, was used. When performing emergency dental treatment with suspected COVID-19 cases, a higher level of respiratory protection should be considered, such as EU FFP3 respirators conforming to European Standard 149 (EN149).

3.2.4 Preprocedural mouth rinse

Preprocedural mouth rinse is one of the most effective methods of reducing the proportion of microorganisms in oral aerosols (Samaranayake and Peiris, 2004; Feres et al., 2010). A meta-analysis showed that the use of preprocedural mouth rinse, including chlorhexidine (CHX), essential oils, and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), resulted in a mean reduction of 68.4% colony-forming units in dental aerosol (Marui et al., 2019). Although the effect of preprocedural mouth rinse against coronavirus is still unknown, it has been proven that CHX is effective against several infectious viruses, including herpes simple virus (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) (Wood and Payne, 1998)

About 0.12% CHX was used as a preprocedural mouth rinse. For patients who develop mucosal irritation or other side effects such as tongue stain, 0.05% CPC could be a good alternative (Feres et al., 2010).

3.2.5 Rubber dam isolation

During dental procedures that generate aerosols, rubber dam provides barrier protection from the primary source and will virtually eliminate all pathogens emerging from respiratory secretion. If the rubber dam is placed correctly, the only source of contamination would be the tooth that is undergoing treatment (Harrel and Molinari, 2004). Application of rubber dam during cavity preparation showed a significant reduction in the spread of microorganisms by 90% (Cochran et al., 1989). Rubber dam is applied in all aerosol-generating procedures. One disadvantage of using the rubber dam is that it is not feasible in procedures that require subgingival instrumentation, such as subgingival restoration and subgingival crown margin preparation. We propose several alternations in Table 1.

Table 1.

Strategies to reduce droplet generation in different dental disciplines

Dental discipline Special precaution
 Endodontics Rubber dam must be applied during endodontic treatment
Root canal treatment usually requires a number of endodontic instruments and devices, therefore minimizing unnecessary hand contact with surfaces and equipment in the dental office to reduce possibility of fomite transmission
 Restorative dentistry and pediatric dentistry Avoid using rotary instruments during cavity preparation. In selective cases, consider using chemochemical caries removal or atraumatic restorative techniques
If rotary instrumentation must be performed, rubber dam isolation should be applied
 Periodontics Hand and ultrasonic instrumentation are equally effective in removing plaque and calculus deposits; if required, manual scaling and polishing are recommended (Krishna and de Stefano, 2016)
 Prosthodontics Salivary suction must be performed with care to avoid gagging
Select and adjust trays to the right size for impression taking to avoid cough reflex. For highly sensitive patients, consider applying oral mucosa anesthesia to the throat before impression taking
During fixed partial denture or single-crown preparation, treatment alternation may be considered to incorporate rubber dam application. For example, design supra-gingival margin for posterior bridge or use a split-dam technique (Li et al., 2004)
During removable partial denture or complete denture try-in, avoid touching other objects in the dental office after contacting patients’ saliva
Upon removal from patient’s mouth, dental prosthesis, impressions, and other prosthodontics materials (e.g., bite registration) should be thoroughly disinfected by a disinfectant having at least intermediate level activity
 Oral-maxillofacial surgery When performing simple extraction, treat the patient in a supine position to avoid working in the breath way of a patient
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3.2.6 Removal/filter of contaminated air

There are several methods to remove/filter contaminated air in treatment areas; the two most commonly used devices include the inexpensive high-volume evacuator (HVE) and the expensive high-efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) filters.

HVE filter: It is a suction device that helps remove air at a rate of up to 2.83 m3 per minute. It is the easiest way to remove dental aerosols as they are generated and could effectively reduce contamination caused by the operating site by 90% (Narayana et al., 2016). However, the device should be held at a proper distance (approximately 6–15 mm) from the active ultrasonic tip. One limitation of the HVE is that without a dental assistant, clinicians might face difficulty in operating it using one hand. There are modified HVEs in the market that address this problem.

HEPA filter: It is an air filtration device that can remove 99.97% of the particles measuring 0.3 μm in diameter. One disadvantage is that the filter may become a source of microbes if the retained microorganisms proliferate and enter back into the filtered air (Chuaybamroong et al., 2010). In addition, soiled HEPA filters are difficult to clean and expensive to replace (Day et al., 2018).

3.2.7 Environmental surface disinfection

During aerosol generating procedures, droplets containing infective pathogens could be deposited on the surrounding surfaces. An analysis of 22 studies revealed that human coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, can persist on inanimate surfaces for up to 9 d. However, they can be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfects within one minute. These surface disinfectants contain 62%–71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.1% (1 g/L) sodium hypochlorite (Kampf et al., 2020). Surfaces are disinfected after each patient visits, especially surfaces in close proximity to the operating areas.

3.2.8 Other methods to reduce droplet generation in different dental disciplines

Based on the features of different dental disciplines (Table 1), we summarize some strategies that could be implemented in some dental specialties to reduce droplet generation.

4. Conclusions

Dentists, by nature, are at high risk of exposure to infectious diseases. The emergence of COVID-19 has brought new challenges and responsibilities to dental professionals. A better understanding of aerosol transmission and its implication in dentistry can help us identify and rectify negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, implementation of special precautions could prevent disease transmission from asymptomatic carriers. These special precautions would not only help control the spread of COVID-19 but also serve as a guide for managing other respiratory diseases.

Footnotes

*

Project supported by the Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. LY20H140001), China

Contributors: Zi-yu GE and Lu-ming YANG analyzed the literatures and prepared the first draft of the manuscript. Jia-jia XIA, Xiao-hui FU, and Yan-zhen ZHANG revised, edited, and checked the final version. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Compliance with ethics guidelines: Zi-yu GE, Lu-ming YANG, Jia-jia XIA, Xiao-hui FU, and Yan-zhen ZHANG declare that they have no conflict of interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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