Optimizing Safe Dental Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations Based on a Guide Developed for Dental Practices in China

Li, Li; Zeng, Muhui; Chen, Xiao; Cai, Shuman; Xu, Chunjing; Xia, Wei; Jiang, Lijun; Zou, Xiaoyan; Chen, Pei; Rong, Mingdeng

doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.619357

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 97 publications

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“…Alternatively, air filtration systems that use high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filtration were suggested by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 22 as these units can remove up to 99% of airborne pathogens in just 23 minutes, thereby decreasing room turnover time. 32 Dental schools opted either to conduct AGPs in closed operatories with negative pressure 33 or increase the room turnover time. 34 A dental school in Malaysia followed another protocol whereby AGP treatments were provided in enclosed pods that used specially designed physical barriers 2 m in height around each cubicle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A COVID-19 University-Based Dental Clinic Experience and Infection Control Protocol Modification for Safe Clinical Education

2022

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Objectives The aim of the study was to share our experience of the development and application of a modified infection control protocol at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Umm Al-Qura University (UQUDENT) during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second aim was to evaluate the impact of the implemented strategies on preparations for future requirements in clinical dental education. Materials and Methods In this descriptive study, we evaluated the challenges facing dental practice and categorized them into four domains: challenges facing dental practice during the pandemic, the risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection, the design of student clinics, and the financial challenges. The impact of strategies established to deal with such challenges was studied by comparing the number of treated patients from September 1, 2020, to March 01, 2021, with the number treated during the same months pre-COVID-19. The COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed students and health care workers (HCWs) were expressed in numbers and percentages in each category of the study group. Results Policies were set up to deal with the challenges in each domain, after training all the hospital personnel in mitigation of the spread of infection within the hospital. We left a non-working clinic between every two operating clinics, and the patient risk was assessed by triage scoring and health status checks by a Saudi mobile application at the entrance. The hospital delivered more personal protective equipment and obligated all students and HCWs to wear KN95 or N95 masks during procedures. Over 1,500 patients were treated during the study period with more than a 30% reduction in comparison to those in the pre-COVID-19 period, but only 20 UQUDENT personnel had confirmed COVID-19 infection, and all proved to be community-acquired by contact tracing. Conclusion The measures implemented in this study proved effective. With the challenges and limited resources, UQUDENT managed to resume the operation of its dental clinics and training while preventing cross-infection, and it ensured that dental students graduated with the required competency. Sharing experiences between educational institutes will help to graduate safe competent practitioners.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A COVID-19 University-Based Dental Clinic Experience and Infection Control Protocol Modification for Safe Clinical Education

2022

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“…Dental professionals are heavily exposed to blood, saliva, and aerosols produced from a variety of dental procedures [8]. Due to the difficult and almost infeasible disinfection of dental instruments, such as turbine and saliva ejector, and close contact with patients, infection prevention and control in dentistry could become more of a concern [11], [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Risk Management in Dental Offices: A Review Article

Aghili¹,

Pourzal²,

Mosaddad³

et al. 2022

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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BACKGROUND: As all the dental staff, including nurses and practitioners, are exposed to various routes of contamination due to the novel COVID-19 virus, which is still unknown to the scientific world, developing strategies to reduce the risk of transmission and decontaminate surfaces in a dental office would be of high importance. Although there is still insufficient data on managing this virus in dental offices, several studies have suggested protocols for improving care. AIM: This study aimed to review present investigations and reach a conclusion on what we know and need to know to combat this virus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this review, Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases were searched using the keywords “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “Medical Disinfectants,” “Personal Protective Equipment’s,” and “Surface Decontamination.” Articles were reviewed, and finally, relevant articles published during 2000–2022 were included in the final paper. RESULTS: The present research concluded that using a combination of the face shield and N95 masks protected the eyes, nose, and mouth. To have more efficient protection, water-resistant long-sleeved gowns and gloves were highly suggested. To overcome aerosols, high-performance air filters and ultraviolet were found quite effective. Allowing the patient to use antiseptic mouthwash before starting the treatment could reduce oral microorganisms and the following airborne contamination. CONCLUSION: This review has gathered all available data regarding dentistry and COVID-19 in order to conclude what has been achieved yet in the prevention of this virus through dental offices; however, more investigations are needed to have a definitive protocol against the virus.

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“…Furthermore, 20.5% had not been vaccinated against hepatitis B [14]. Moreover, it should be noted that adherence to infection control measures in developing countries is often lower than that in developed countries [15]. Different organizations have compiled infection control guidelines for medical and dental clinics including the World Health Organization, American Dental Association, National Health Services of the UK, and center for disease control and prevention (CDC) [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Investigation of Clinical Guidelines and Standards on Infection Control in Specialized Dental Departments

Keshvad

Vatandoust

Tahmasebi

et al. 2022

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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Background: It is important to adhere to infection control measures in dental procedures due to direct contact with blood and saliva. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, regular surveillance is imperative to ensure adherence to the standards. This study aimed to assess the level of adherence to infection control guidelines in specialized dental clinics in different working shifts. Materials and Methods: This study was assessed the level of adherence of 45 selected dental departments to three main guidelines released by (I) the Center for Disease Control (CDC), (II) Ministry of Health (MOH), and (III) armed forces organization (AFO) in three different working shift. The CDC checklist had eight domains. Thus, the items of each domain were individually scored, and considering the weighting coefficient of each item, the total score was calculated. The same procedure was carried out for the two remaining guidelines. Possible effect of working shifts and different specialties on infection control practice was also calculated. Results: The mean rate of adherence was 70.7% to the CDC, 93.8% to the MOH and 84.4% to the AFO guidelines indicating that adherence to the CDC guidelines was lower than the other two domestic guidelines. Individual assessment of each item revealed that hand hygiene (39%) and safe handling and disposal of sharp instruments (46%) acquired the lowest, and sterilization (79%) and safe injection (97%) acquired the highest score according to the CDC checklist. There was no relationship between working shifts and dental specialties regarding the adherence to infection control standards. Conclusion: Dental clinics had different performances regarding infection control guidelines. Further emphasis should be placed on hand hygiene and disposal of sharp instruments.

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Optimizing Safe Dental Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations Based on a Guide Developed for Dental Practices in China

Cited by 6 publications

References 97 publications

A COVID-19 University-Based Dental Clinic Experience and Infection Control Protocol Modification for Safe Clinical Education

A COVID-19 University-Based Dental Clinic Experience and Infection Control Protocol Modification for Safe Clinical Education

COVID-19 Risk Management in Dental Offices: A Review Article

The Investigation of Clinical Guidelines and Standards on Infection Control in Specialized Dental Departments

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