Overview of Infection Control Since the Emergence of COVID-19 and Other Emerging/Re-emerging Diseases

Infection control is essential to provide the best oral health care to our patients in a safe environment. With the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), proper infection control in a dental setting is more necessary than ever. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); the virus can propagate by small liquid particles when the infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes. The particles can be larger respiratory droplets or smaller aerosols. Dental professionals are at risk since they use equipment that produces aerosol and work close to the patients’ nasal and oropharyngeal regions. Consequently, the patients’ oral fluids and contamination on dental unit surfaces, dental materials, and instruments could spread the infection to the dental team and patients. The risk of transmission in the dental office can be reduced by having in place well-planned infection control systems together with the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), adequate air exchange of clinic rooms, proper instrument sterilization, and surface disinfecting procedures.