Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (or 2019-nCoV) is the novel Coronavirus that affects humans. It originated
in China at the end of 2019 due to the consumption of animals contaminated with this
pathogen. SARS-CoV-2 causes the disease known as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease – 2019),
and until May 21, 2020, approximately 213 countries and territories had been affected
by SARS-CoV-2. The objective of this study was to review the origin and characteristics
of this virus (SARS-CoV-2), symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19, treatment of people
with COVID-19, forms of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, and precautions in dentistry.
A literature search on PubMed/Medline was performed on the May 21, 2020, using the
keywords (Mesh terms) “COVID-19” or “SARS-CoV-2” or “Coronavirus” associated with
“dentistry” or “dental care” or “oral medicine.” SARS-CoV-2 articles about the origin
and characteristics of this virus (SARS-CoV-2), symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19,
treatment of people with COVID-19, forms of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, and precautions
in dentistry were included. The search was expanded according to necessity. Articles
related to precautions in dentistry and SARS-CoV-1 or MERS-CoV were also selected,
since precautions used in the dental clinic to avoid these viruses also apply to SARS-CoV-2.
In addition, the references cited in the publications of articles included were also
considered when appropriate. There was no limit in relation to the year of publication,
and only articles written in English were included. In this study, suggestions for
the safety of dental professionals were also included. Forty-seven articles and nine
websites were included in this review.
Keywords
COVID19 - SARS-CoV-2 - dentist; dentistry - professional-patient transmission - Coronaviruses
- Coronavirus Infections - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2