The Expanded Role of Dentists in the COVID-19 Pandemic Worldwide

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 has spread globally and ensued several global restrictions with consequences of unknown long-term proportions, currently placing a strain on the healthcare system worldwide. This review aims to present the role of dentists in the COVID-19 pandemic in various aspects of dentistry, including general dentistry and restorative dentistry. Various studies and reports on COVID-19 were analyzed. Literatures on 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were explored using key words “COVID-19”, “COVID”, “dentistry”, “oral health”, “oral cavity” in Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline, and Scopus databases. It was found that dentists, dental specialists, dental assistants, dental staff, and patients are potentially at higher risk of COVID-19 infection during dental treatments. There is an association between the oral cavity and systemic diseases in the context of COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is a great role of dentists in the COVID-19 pandemic in various aspects of dentistry, including general dentistry and restorative dentistry © 2021, Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. All Rights Reserved.