PharmaNews PARO #4 Presents! Recommendations for safe management and control in dental care in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic! Evidence of human-to-human transmission of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now emerged in health care and family settings. The virus is known to spread primarily through droplets, sneezes, and spray, there is a high risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during dental procedures. However, it is also known that the virus can be transmitted through saliva making it even more difficult for dental procedures to be performed safely and efficiently without the risks of infection and spread of SARS-CoV-2). Different bibliographic sources, medical and dental references, provides us with the most necessary recommendations within the dental procedure to avoid the spread of SARS-CoV-2:
1
●
Evaluate signs and symptoms, especially fever and cough. Dental procedures should be postponed and health authorities should be notified. Symptomatic relief for patients with pain and/or inflammation of the teeth can be performed with pain relievers such as acetaminophen. Although the hypothesis of a potential interaction between the use of ibuprofen and SARS-CoV-2 was raised, there is no current evidence that this drug aggravates COVID-19 infection in any age group. Recently, the World Health Organization rejected that there is a contraindication for the use of ibuprofen in patients with COVID-19
●
Staff education and the use of personal protection must be provided. These health science personnel, whether a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or nurse, among others, must know the protocols given by the World Health Organization, and by the country's health authorities, must be highly trained during their professional work, they must manage the use of medical equipment well, the use of protective materials and the precautions they need to know during the pandemic.
●
Should wash your hands with soap and water or rub your hands with 70% ethanol or isopropanol before and after each dental procedure they perform, in order to always protect both the patient and the health sciences professional.
●
Extraoral radiographs and cone beam computed tomography are preferable to intraoral radiographs to prevent reflexes of coughing or vomiting and possible spread of the virus. It is also recommended to avoid stimulating the activation areas of cough and vomiting, including the base of the tongue, jaws, uvula, palate, and posterior pharyngeal wall.
●
Use rubber dam insulation during dental procedures and avoid the use of ultrasonic and sonic scrapers, air polishing, air-water syringe, air abrasion units and rotating handpieces.
●
For suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 that require urgent dental care such as aerosol-generating procedures, it is necessary, if possible, to leave them for the end of the service change and promote terminal disinfection after care to avoid.
●
Hospital grade germicides (quaternary ammonium, phenol, and alcohol based products) should be used to clean and disinfect environmental surfaces and patient
care equipment, since SARS-CoV-2 can survive for 72 hours on steel surfaces Stainless and plastic, 24 hours in carton and from 40 minutes to 2 hours in aerosol or powder form. Instrument disinfection and sterilization should be performed using appropriate PPE and well-established techniques. The biosecurity guidelines for auxiliary dentists must also be reinforced. ●
Dental procedure waste must be disposed of in packages for infected waste. These should be replaced when they reach 2/3 of their capacity or at least within 48 hours, or in accordance with the protocols of the institution's infection control committee, since inadequate disposal offers high risks to ecological health and public.
It is essential that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 be controlled and even more in health facilities such as dental clinics and hospitals that work to improve the health of patients with general and dental problems and illnesses. Biosecurity protocols for the COVID-19 pandemic become essential, it is necessary to abide by the measures that the welfare and health entities and organizations provide us with in order to reduce as much as possible the increase in cases and deaths the COVID-19 pandemic.
All credits of scientific information are for the authors of the scientific article creation! Scientific information reference: Martins, P. e. (2020). Recommendations for a safety dental care management during SARS-CoV-2. Journal Pan american Health, 1-4. Link: https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/51999
2