Infection control in dental health care during and after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease caused by the widespread transmission of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Some of those infected become seriously ill. Others do not show any symptoms, but can still contribute to transmission of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is excreted in the oral cavity and can be spread via aerosols. Aerosol generating procedures in dental health care can increase the risk of transmission of the virus. Due to the risk of infection of both dental healthcare workers and patients, additional infection control measures for all patients are strongly recommended when providing dental health care. Consideration should be given to which infection control measures are necessary when providing care in both the current situation and in the future

A review of respiratory protection measures recommended in Europe for dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic

No abstract available

Caries risk assessment by Dutch dental students

Objectives: Individual caries risk assessment (CRA) is essential for targeted caries management at both preventive and therapeutic levels. This study explores the knowledge and use of CRA by Dutch dental students.Methods: A total of 213 fifth-year dental students from three dental schools in the Netherlands (Amsterdam (n=119), Groningen (n=44) and Nijmegen (n=50)) were invited to participate. Data was collected using a survey.Results: This survey was completed by 118 students (55%). All respondents reported using CRA on a regular basis, although only part of them reported applying it on both primary/mixed and permanent dentitions (Amsterdam 67% vs. Groningen 45% vs. Nijmegen 86%; χ2=18.671, p<0.001). Almost all respondents tailored the frequency of dental visits (96%) and preventive strategies (99%) based on CRA, while 18% of them indicated not to base individual treatment plans on CRA. Oral hygiene, diet as well as active and recent carious lesions were considered as the most important factors in CRA for all patients, regardless of their age (no statistical differences among schools). The interest for continuing education on CRA significantly differed among the three schools (Amsterdam 47% vs. Groningen 61% vs. Nijmegen 24%; χ2=14.597, p=0.006). Students that did not use CRA in all patient groups were more likely to express an interest for continuing education on CRA (χ2=3.928, p=0.047).Conclusions: Dutch dental students report a rather similar knowledge on CRA between schools. However, the recently intensified collaboration between the dental schools could homogenize the training of dental students even further

Study characteristics hospital setting.

<p>Study characteristics hospital setting.</p

Bacterial or fungal loads in mean Log-10 CFU/m³ in dental, measured twice.

<p>* = passive sampling method; # active sampling method.</p

PRISMA flowchart.

<p>PRISMA flowchart.</p

Study characteristics in the dental setting.

<p>Study characteristics in the dental setting.</p

Bacterial or fungal loads in mean Log-10 CFU/m³ in dental.

<p>* = passive sampling method; # active sampling method.</p

Study characteristics hazard in healthcare and the dental setting.

<p>Study characteristics hazard in healthcare and the dental setting.</p

Overview of micro-organisms identified in hospital setting.

<p>Overview of micro-organisms identified in hospital setting.</p