Objectives: Health care workers are at an increased risk of SARS – CoV-2 transmission. The risk of infection for dental teams is assumed to be high, due to work settings, proximity to mouth, exposure to saliva and aerosols. There is a lack of evidence that quantifies the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission for dental patients and staff. Our objective was to assess SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for dental staff members (DSMs) and patients following exposure in dental clinics during the second wave of the pandemic in Israel. Methods: The study analyzed new positive SARS-CoV-2 cases following exposures in dental clinics from May to September 2020. Two data sources were used: case report forms (CRFs) and epidemiological investigations. CRFs were developed by the MoH and distributed to dental clinic s to identify DSMs exposed to SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, and patients exposed to positive DSMs. SARS-CoV-2 status was diagnosed using MoH approved tests in certified laboratories and verified against the National COVID-19 database. Statistical analysis on a non-identified basis was performed. The population incidence rate and dental setting transmission rates were calculated for the study period with 95% Confidence Intervals. Results: From May 1 st to 30 th September, SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate in dental clinics was significantly lower when compared to the population. Following 962 reported exposures of DSMs to 508 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, 7 DSMs were SARS – CoV-2 positive with a 0.7% cumulative transmission rate. Following 507 reported exposures by 43 SARS-CoV-2 positive DSMs, 3 patients were SARS – CoV-2 positive, with a 0.6% cumulative transmission rate. Conclusions: The transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 in dental settings was very low for both patients and DSMs. Clinical significance: Our results suggest that routine dental care could be safely provided during the pandemic. Continuous monitoring should be performed due to the emergence of new variants and the vaccination programs.

The Snap-a-ray film holder was used more frequently in young uncooperative children; nevertheless, its use was not associated with an increased frequency or degree of overlapping surfaces.

Introduction Coronaviruses which have been responsible for numerous epidemics worldwide, share common transmission modalities and pose a risk within dental clinics. Updated, COVID‐19‐specific infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for dental settings, including minimizing aerosol‐generating procedures (AGPs), were issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) in spring 2020. This study investigated dental team members (dentists, dental assistants and hygienists) compliance with MoH recommendations exposed to asymptomatic COVID‐19 positive patients. Methods The MoH analysed exposure reports from dental clinics to asymptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients following their reopening (April 2020). Exposure reports were verified against a COVID‐19 national database. A cumulative transmission rate was calculated and compared to the rate in the population. Results One thousand three hundred twenty‐third exposure reports were received (May 1–December 31, 2020) regarding dental team members who treated asymptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients: 525 (39.7%) were dentists, 656 (49.6%) dental assistants and 126 (9.5%) hygienists. Practitioner type was not reported in 16 (1.2%) cases. Most dental team members reported full PPE use and performance of short/non‐aerosol‐generating procedures. Dentists and hygienists reported higher compliance compared with dental assistants. 8 (0.6%) dental team members (four dentists, four dental assistants) were positive post‐exposure, with an average of 5.4 days (median 5 days, SD = 4.8) from dental treatment to a positive COVID‐19 test. Principal Conclusions Most dental team members complied fully with the MoH recommendations. Differences were found between the dental team members (hygienists being most adherent). Further efforts are required to encourage full compliance.