Table 2.

Recommendations and procedures that should be performed during dental care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Priority Level Consideration	Description/Recommendation
Priority cases for dental health care	Pericoronitis, pulpitis, abscess, osteitis, localized bacterial infection, dental trauma, extensive caries, broken or defective restorations causing tissue damage or pain, suture removal, adjustments to appliances and prostheses causing damage to oral structures, and replacement of temporary endodontic fillings and patients with presence of pain [186].
Nonpriority dental procedures	Cosmetic dental procedures, orthodontic and orthopedic treatments, replacement of permanent restorations for aesthetic reasons, intentional root canal treatment, elective periodontal care, and nonurgent oral surgery and prosthetics [186].
Regarding location of dental care personnel	It is of vital importance to avoid overcrowding in all areas of circulation of patients and health personnel in addition to waiting rooms; take a distance of not less than 1.8 m within the room or care area of the cases that have been confirmed with COVID-19 [187].
Appointments and schedules	Appointing patients at established times, which must be respected, with a safe time interval between each of the dental consultations, avoiding contact and approach between patients [187].
During the emergency dental consultation	-Evaluate patients suspected of COVID-19 by signs and symptoms, particularly cough and fever [188]. -Attenuate the symptoms that provoke pain and cause inflammation in the dental organs, this can be with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs [189]. -Provide information to staff and provide them with the use of personal protective equipment (N95 respirators, safety goggles, clinical gloves, disposable aprons, and hair covers) [190,191]. -Wash hands with soap and water or clean them with 70% isopropanol or 70% ethanol before and after care [186]. -Do not touch the nose, mouth, and eyes without having cleaned hands [192,193]. -Use computed tomography and extraoral radiographs in preference to intraoral radiographs, and avoid the generation of lumps in the areas that trigger coughing and vomiting [194,195]. -Use rubber dam for absolute isolation during the dental procedure and do not use air-water syringe lavage, ultrasonic and sonic scalers, rotary handpieces, and air abrasion units [196]. -Do not remove the mask before 30 min in the environment where dental care is performed because it increases the risk of contagion [197]. -Disinfect all surfaces and structures of the dental office and patient care equipment with hospital germicides. Proper sterilization of all dental instruments should be performed according to the biosafety techniques that have been established by the manufacturers of the devices used for sterilization [173]. -Dispose of the remains of all dental procedures in special packages or bags for infected waste [198].