IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-19 (COVID-19) OUTBREAK ON DENTAL MEDICINE & PATIENT CARE

During past 3 months COVID-19 has rapidly expanded across various countries. This is a zoonotic disease which is believed to have originated in bats and pangolins and later transmitted to humans. Human transmission occurs via respiratory droplet/contact. WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic due to the alarming levels of spread and severity. In response to the current threat, many countries have employed various containment strategies to protect people from health risk and avoid strain on the national healthcare systems worldwide. However despite the extensive efforts, this outbreak is still on the rise due to the community spread. In such a scenario, dental healthcare workers may deal with patients who have suspected/confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus the current article aims to provide brief information pertaining to etiology, spread and symptoms and transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and outline infection control as well patient management strategies in a dental setting.