Risk Assessment and Dental Considerations in COVID-19
Author(s): Vaishnavi Harish Agrawal, Vidya Lohe*, Ravikant Sune, Swapnil Mohod and Mrunal Meshram
Abstract
Today due to the pandemic caused by virus named novel corona virus from the large variant family of coronavirus world is facing a lot of consequences since almost last 2 years. In human being along with many organ systems this virus has greatly affected the oral cavity leading to a lot of problems. Many oral manifestations are found in the cavity like oral dryness, vesiculobullous lesions, aphthous like lesions, dysgeusia, and anosmia along with common features of COVID-19 like fever, cough, dyspnoea, malaise, weariness, and sputum/secretion. Thus, this disease (COVID-19) had a big influence on dentists, and they were found to have a higher transmission risk. After research and studies vaccines were introduced and till October 2021, healthcare personnel have delivered about 7 billion doses of COVID-19 immunisation. But still due to the continuous interaction with the aerosols and droplets during the treatment the dentist are at high risk of getting infected. Thus, it is necessary for the dentist to bind with some protocols and takes all infection control measures to prevent from infection. It includes time to time sanitization, wearing PPE, proper sterilisation of instruments, disinfection of working area after every patient, waste disposable management. Thus, dentist has a great role in preventing the spread of COVID-19.