Table 1.

Overview of additional infection prevention and control practices implemented at the UZB during the COVID-19 pandemic

Domain	Infection prevention and control measures
Workforce	Only core of essential, healthy staff present at the UZB
	Mandatory self-screening for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, exposure to others with COVID-19, and fever (>37.5°C) before going to work
	Mandatory social distancing in non-patient care areas
	Strict hand hygiene
Screening and triage	Patients contacting by phone
	Screening for COVID-19, symptoms consistent with COVID-19, exposure to others with COVID-19, and fever (>37.5°C)
	Assessment of the urgency of the dental treatment need
	Use of teledentistry options whenever viable*
	Patients presenting at the UZB
	Traffic light system outside the patient entrance to ensure social distancing
	Compulsory ABHR and type II surgical mask, supplied at no charge
	Triage check-in and reception equipped with physical barriers
	Screening for fever (>37.5°C) with a contactless forehead thermometer
	Screening questionnaire (screening for COVID-19, symptoms consistent with COVID-19, exposure to others with COVID-19, and fever)
	Targeted medical history by DHCP and triage (urgent dental care needed, dental care can be deferred, immediate referral to a hospital warranted)
	Visitors limited to caregivers/parents essential for a patient’s care and/or well-being
PPE	Donning and doffing of PPE according to CDC recommendations
	General PPE
	Mandatory mask-wearing for patients and staff
	KN95 respirators for DHCP, type IIR surgical masks for other staff members, type II surgical masks for patients
	PPE for dental care delivery
	Scrubs, type IIR surgical mask worn over a KN95 respirator, disposable surgical head cap, protective glasses, face shield, medical gloves
	PPE for dental care delivery for patients confirmed/suspected COVID-19
	Operating room restricted shoes, disposable surgical trousers, gowns and caps, type IIR surgical mask worn over a KN99 respirator, protective glasses, face shield, surgical gloves
Waiting areas and restrooms	Mandatory social distancing
	Separate waiting areas and restrooms for patients with confirmed/suspected COVID-19
	No-touch dispensers of ABHR and receptacles for disposal of tissues and suchlike at the entrance, the reception, the waiting areas and the patient rooms
	Chairs in the waiting areas positioned >2 m apart
	No newspapers, magazines, toys in the waiting areas
	Placards issued by the Federal Office of Public Health with instructions on social distancing, hand hygiene, and cough etiquette
	Regular wipe disinfection
Patient rooms	Individual patient rooms
	Access restricted to DHCP essential for patient care
	Regular impact ventilation where possible
	Dedicated containers for PPE and any waste
	Environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures after each patient
	High-level disinfectants
	For patients with confirmed/suspected COVID-19, designated patient room equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air filtration system
	Fallow period ≥30 min after environmental cleaning and disinfection before re-entry into that patient room was allowed
Urgent dental care	Preprocedural mouth rinse (hydrogen peroxide 1%, 30 s)
	Instructions for DHCP:
	- Exclusively use hand instruments whenever possible
	- Avoid aerosol generating procedures (high-speed handpieces, air/water syringes) whenever possible
	- Avoid procedures that may trigger coughing or increase the salivary flow whenever possible
	- Use rubber dam whenever feasible, place it so that it covers the patient’s nose and disinfect the operative field
	- Take intraoral radiographs only when absolutely necessary and consider extraoral imaging (panoramic radiographs, CBCT) as preferential alternative
	- One-visit treatment whenever possible
	Prohibition on the use of turbines, ultrasonic instruments, and air-polishing devices
	Mandatory use of four-handed dentistry and high volume suction during aerosol generating procedures

ABHR, alcohol-based hand rub; CBCT, cone-beam computed tomography; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; DHCP, dental healthcare personnel; PPE, personal protective equipment; UZB, University Center for Dental Medicine Basel

*Teledentistry at the UZB involved phone or email consultations, mainly focusing on the assessment of the treatment need including its urgency and patient counseling in cases of a non-urgent treatment need (for example, management of dentin hypersensitivity with over-the-counter products)