Pivotal Exigencies of Dental Services and Related Professions, in Covid- 19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review



Janbabai G^{1, 12, 17} ; Bonjar AHS^{2, 3, 4} ; Heidarzadeh A^{5, 17} ; Shadnoush M^{6, 12} ; Sadeghi G^{12, 13} ; Dalband M^{7, 12} ; Rokn AR^{8, 12} ; Samadzadeh H^{12, 14} ; Tajernia A^{12, 15} ; Sai S^{12, 16} ; Masaeli R^{9, 12} ; Heydari G¹¹ ; Yazdani A^{2, 12} ; Houshmand B^{10, 11, 12}
Source: Tehran University Medical Journal Published:2021

Abstract

Background: The advent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (socalled SARS-CoV-2) causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (so-called COVID-19) occurred in Dec. 2019 in Wuhan, China. Having an inconceivable worldwide contagion, the outbreak was labeled a pandemic by the WHO. Dental services and related professions (including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and the personnel of cleansing, remedial, triage, dental laboratories, radiographic laboratories and other related paraclinicals), facing galore aerosol and droplets, are in the topmost risk groups exposed to the queer virus. This study was fulfilled to round up evidencebased data to break a link at any part of the virus transmission chain in dental services and related professions. Methods: Relevant online databases, as PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar and TripDatabase were searched meticulously and evaluated for relevant published original research papers. Subsequently, to fulfill the investigation, ADA, CDC and WHO websites were reviewed to gain relevant guidelines and protocols. Consequently, 476 resources were included considering the canonical inclusion criteria. For the sake of quality assessment of the resources, an authentic checklist was exploited to score the resources from 1 to 15, wherein the admissible score was 10. After deliberation of resources, 366 of them were excluded and finally, 110 resources were selected and overhauled to attain a comprehensive perception on the subject of the investigation. Results: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 includes direct transmission (via droplet and aerosol inhalation) and indirect transmission (via surface and instrument contamination), which can amply occur in dental services and related professions. Therefore, an all-inclusive evidence-based miscellany was rallied on several exigent topics, containing genuine esteem in reputable scientific authorities, to present a consummate report for the dental clinicians and related practitioners, working in the course of the running pandemic. Conclusion: Contemplating the ongoing crisis, undertaking a set of miscellany elected guidelines and protocols, is indispensable in this vital interval of history to bridle the current pandemic, which has been abridged via this systematic perusal. © 2021 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.