The Mouth as a Site of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the oral cavity was recognized as a critically important site for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The purpose of this review is to analyze the literature surrounding SARS-CoV-2 entry, replication, and transmission and the resulting impact on host tissues in the oral cavity.

The detection of viral genetic material in saliva allows for widespread surveillance testing and emphasizes the importance of viral transmission through shed in saliva. As the cohort of patients who have recovered from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection grows, several questions remain about the long-term impacts of viral infection on the oral tissues, including whether the oral cavity may serve as a persistent viral reservoir. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the viral life cycle in the diverse tissues of the oral cavity is warranted. We conclude with a broad outlook on the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the oral cavity and how these effects may relate to the post-acute coronavirus syndrome sequelae experienced by recovered patients.

SARS-CoV-2 can enter and replicate in the oral cavity and be spread between individuals via shed in saliva. Several acute oral manifestations of infection have been reported, and the lingering effects of infection on oral tissues are an area of ongoing investigation.