Covid-19: Prevention Recommendation for Dental Surgeons

Covid-19 spreads via respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected secretions and aerosols in some therapeutic procedures that produce them (for example nebulizations), as well as in dental consultations. Therefore, the following precautions are recommended for dental professionals:
- Use the N95 mask or, if you continue to use the usual mask, change it every two hours to avoid losing effectiveness;
- Reinforce the use of lab coat, gloves and protective glasses (it is recommended to disinfect and sanitize it with each procedure);
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after treating patients;
- After each consultation, immediately clean and disinfect all surfaces and work environment;
- Take extra precautions when handling models and molds, ensuring their effective disinfection;
- Strictly follow all universal sterilization and disinfection procedures;
- Avoid greetings with kisses or handshakes in the consultation.
- Try to keep all surfaces of the office permanently clean and disinfected due to the fact that the virus can be carried by aerosols and can survive on these surfaces for more than nine days.

Useful links:

- Report from the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases about the new Coronavirus - questions and answers for health professionals and the general public: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1alqe7VUWgUOyrS8kwvmKL7OCDuvJsXcx/view

- National Contingency Plan for Human Infection with the new Coronavirus Covid-19: https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/february/13/plano-contingencia-coronavirus-COVID19.pdf

- Clinical Management Protocol for Corona Virus: https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/february/11/protocolo-manejo-coronavirus.pdf

- Epidemiological Bulletin 03, in the topic Prevention and control measures for dealing with suspected or confirmed cases: https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/february/21/2020-02-21-Boletim- Epidemiologico03.pdf

- Law nº 14.466, of 06/08/2011 - Prohibits the use, by health professionals, of personal protective equipment outside the work environment:
https://www.al.sp.gov.br/norma/ ? tipo = Law & number = 14466 & year = 2011

- NR 32 - Health and safety at work in health services: http://trabalho.gov.br/images/Documentos/SST/NR/NR32.pdf

Preventive measures

As an additional preventive measure, it is important to note that, before starting the consultation, care should be taken to avoid patients suspected of having the virus. It should be noted that the definition of a suspected case related to Covid-19, on this date, results from the combination of clinical and epidemiological criteria, and should be considered suspect:
- Anyone who has traveled to any of the affected areas, 14 days before the onset of symptoms;
- Anyone who, in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, has been in close contact with a probable or confirmed case;
- Anyone with clinical symptoms compatible with a respiratory infection, with fever, cough, dyspnoea or malaise.

Source: APCD – Associação Paulista de Cirurgiões Dentistas. Available at: http://www.apcd.org.br/index.php/noticias/1532/em-foco/04-03-2020/covid-19-recomendacao-de-prevencao-para-cirurgioes-dentistas. Access on: 03/01/2020.