Transmission routes of COVID-19 in the dental practice.

Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci 2020; 12: 9.

Dental professionals are at increased risk but equally play an important role in reducing transmission.

This review outlines characteristics of coronavirus and transmission routes in dental practice. The novel ß-coronavirus (2019-CoV) is different from SARS-CoV but shares the same host receptor, the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The natural host of 2019-nCoV may be the bat Rhinolophus affinis as 2019-nCoV showed 96% of whole-genome identity to BatCoV RaTG13. The person-to-person transmission routes of 2019-nCoV include direct transmission, droplet inhalation transmission, and contact transmission. Those working in dental practices are at increased risk of infection due to the face-to-face communication and the exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, as well as the handling of sharp instruments. Dental professionals equally play an important role in preventing the transmission of 2019-nCoV. The authors recommend infection control measures under the themes of patient evaluation, personal protective measures, mouth rinses, rubber dam isolation, use of anti-retraction handpieces, disinfection and waste management.