Practice Guidelines Addressing Needs of Pakistani Dentists During the COVID-19 Pandemic Part 2: Recommendations

Abstract

The aim of this article was to develop interim workflow guidelines based on specific needs of dental settings in Pakistan, to help navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: Based on needs identified by a survey of 60 dental practitioners, guidelines and protocols were developed after reviewing documents by international and local professional organizations from the fields of dental health care, public health, and hospital epidemiology and infection control. RESULTS: Recommendations providing details on clinic reorganization, improvement in clinic ventilation, walk-in patient management, PPE use, and environmental infection control, were developed. Protocols have been outlined for performing aerosol generating procedures and for disinfection after procedures. CONCLUSION: This report supplements the Government of Pakistan guidelines for practicing dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training of dental health care workers in basic, and in COVID-19 infection control is necessary for adequate implementation of these guidelines.

Safe protocol of resuming routine dental procedures in a tertiary care hospital setting post COVID-19 lockdown

“…Donning zone and Doffing zone were established in separate designated rooms inside each department. HCPs conformed to following sequence while donning PPE [21]: Hand hygiene adhering to WHO's hand hygiene instructions; Sterilized surgical gowns; Face mask; Eye-protection; Face shield; Hand hygiene again before wearing sterile gloves.…”