VOLUME 10 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2020 ) > List of Articles
Abid S Khan, Pallavi Madanshetty, Smita Musani, Taufique Shaikh
Citation Information : Khan AS, Madanshetty P, Musani S, Shaikh T. Coronavirus Disease 2019—The Changing Face of Dentistry. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2020; 10 (2):77-82.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10019-1267
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 01-06-2020
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).
Constant risk of contact and proximity to oral cavity and the production of aerosol have increased the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among dentists. Transmission of coronavirus (CoV) is through respiratory droplets, close contact, or aerosols. Coronaviruses are lipid bilayer enveloped viruses with the viral structure formed primarily of structural proteins having affinity toward the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, which are found abundantly on the mucosa of tongue. These facts have led to categorization of dentistry as a very high exposure risk job with high potential for exposure to COVID-19. Due to the absence of vaccine till date, it is crucial to scrutinize and refine preventive maneuver and to implement strict and efficient infection control protocols to prevent cross infection of COVID-19 among dentists, dental team, and patients in the clinical setup. Based on the existing guidelines and the recently initiated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, this study provides infection control strategies in the field of dentistry in general and in prosthodontics in particular.