Prior to dental treatment |
Before entering a dental office |
- Delay non-urgent dental and cosmetic services. |
ADA, CDC, ADHA, NHS |
-Prevent crowding in appointment setting by booking appointments. |
ADA |
-Dental procedures in patients with a history of COVID-19 should be postponed for at least 1 month. |
WHO |
-High-risk patients like diabetic and immunocompromised patients are treated at the early hours of a dental office opening. |
NHS |
-Use telephone triage, teleconferencing, or Teledentistry options as alternatives to in-office care, if possible. |
CDC, NHS, ADA |
- Ask staff to stay home if they are sick. |
CDC, ADA |
-Actively screen and record the temperature of each staff. Send staff home if they develop symptoms while at work. |
CDC, NHS |
At dental office |
-Actively screen the patient at the time of check-in. Patients with fever should refer to specific medical centers. If the patient is afebrile (temperature < 100.4 °F) and otherwise without symptoms consistent with COVID-19, then emergency dental care may be provided. |
CDC |
-No accompanying individuals should be allowed. |
CDC, ADA |
-Offer hand wash or hydroalcoholic solutions (with 60–75% alcohol) for hand disinfection upon entrance to the dental office. |
NHS, ADA |
-Provide a large room with adequate ventilation in the waiting area. |
NHS |
-Appropriate zoning and separation measures should be undertaken. Waiting rooms and reception areas should allow for 2-m separation, ideally marked on chairs and flooring. |
NHS |
-Remove magazines, reading materials, toys, and other objects that may be touched by others and which are not easily disinfected. |
ADA |
- Place signage in the dental office for instructing patients on standard recommendations for respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette and social distancing. |
ADA |
- Require the use of facemasks or cloth face coverings by everyone entering the dental office |
CDC |
- Dental professionals should implement PPE (isolated wearing like N-95 masks, Health or FFP2-standard masks, gloves, face shields, goggles, gown, surgical cap, shoe cover) |
CDC, NHS, ADA |
-Preparation of materials and instruments in advance and cover surfaces with disposable protections |
NHS |
-Materials stored in a refrigerator should be sterilized before and after each treatment |
WHO |
-Patients should be treated in an isolated and well-ventilated room with negative pressure relative to the surrounding area |
CDC |
During dental treatment |
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-Hand hygiene should be performed before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing PPE. |
CDC |
-Use alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with 60–75% alcohol. If hands are visibly soiled, use soap and water for at least 20 s before returning to ABHR. |
-Preoperative antimicrobial mouth rinse like peroxide could reduce the number of microbes in the oral cavity. Since SARS-CoV-2 may be vulnerable to oxidation, use 1.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.2% povidone as a preprocedural mouth rinse. |
ADA |
-Rubber dams and high-volume saliva ejectors can help minimize aerosol or spatter in dental procedures. |
CDC, NHS, ADA |
-use extraoral dental radiographs, such as panoramic radiographs or cone-beam C.T., as appropriate alternatives of intraoral radiography |
ADA |
-If aerosol-generating procedures are inevitable for emergency care, use 4-handed dentistry. |
CDC, ADA |
-Avoid the use of aerosol-generating procedures, handpieces/ultrasonic instruments, 3-in-1 syringes, and the air-water syringe whenever possible. |
CDC, ADA |
-Dental professionals should use resorbable sutures to eliminate the need for a follow-up appointment. |
ADA |
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-Treatment should be completed in one visit wherever possible. |
NHS |
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-Environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures should be followed promptly after the completion of clinical care. |
CDC |
After dental treatment |
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-Clean PPE with soap and water, or if visibly soiled, clean and disinfect reusable facial protective equipment. |
ADA |
-Manage laundry and medical waste in accordance with routine procedures. |
CDC |