Table 2.

Guidelines that should be adopted in a dental setting during COVID-19 [3, 23–29]

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		-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
		-Treatment should be completed in one visit wherever possible.	NHS
		-Environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures should be followed promptly after the completion of clinical care.	CDC
After dental treatment		-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