Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry

• Published in: Journal of Zhejiang University. B. Science Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 361 - 368
• Main Authors: Ge, Zi-yu, Yang, Lu-ming, Xia, Jia-jia, Fu, Xiao-hui, Zhang, Yan-zhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hangzhou Zhejiang University Press 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols; Betacoronavirus; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Dentistry; Disease transmission; Droplets; Hand Hygiene; Health risks; Humans; Infection Control - methods; Negligence; Pandemics - prevention & control; Personal Protective Equipment; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Review; SARS-CoV-2; Viral diseases; Viruses; 新型冠状病毒肺炎; Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19); R511; Aerosol; 气溶胶; 感染控制; R780.1; Infection control; Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Aerosol; Infection control
• ISSN: 1673-1581; 1862-1783; 1862-1783
• DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B2010010

Since its emergence in December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted several countries, affecting more than 90 thousand patients and making it a global public threat. The routes of transmission are direct contact, and droplet and possible aerosol transmissions. Due to the unique nature of dentistry, most dental procedures generate significant amounts of droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and correction of negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, some special precautions that should be implemented during an outbreak have been raised in this review.