This podcast will discuss the origins of the SARS-COV-2 virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be followed by a review of the virus, its transmission routes, infectivity, symptoms, risk factors and the current status of this pandemic.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review the origins of SARS-COV-2 and human=to-human transmission routes
2. List and describe symptoms of COVID-19 and individual at greater risk of severe COVID-19 disease. 

References

• Bodin M. Coronaviruses Often Start in Animals — Here’s How Those Diseases Can Jump to Humans. Discover. April 2, 2020. Available at: https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/coronaviruses-often-start-in-animals-heres-how-those-diseases-can-jump-to
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings.
• CDC. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). How COVID-19 Spreads. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
• CDC. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html
• Gu J, Han B, Wang J. COVID-19: Gastrointestinal manifestations and potential fecal-oral transmission. Gastroenterology. 2020 Mar 3. pii: S0016-5085(20)30281-X. [Epub ahead of print]https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.054
• Harvard Health Publishing. COVID-19 basics. Symptoms, spread and other essential information about the new coronavirus and COVID-19. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics
• Lipsitch M. Estimating case fatality rates of COVID-19. The Lancet. Published March 31, 2020. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30245-0
• Mousavizadeh L, Ghasemi S. Genotype and phenotype of COVID-19: Their roles in pathogenesis. J Microbiol, Immunol and Infection. 31 March 2020. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118220300827
• Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. J Aut. 2020. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841120300469?via%3Dihub
• Smithsonian Magazine. A Tiger in the Bronx Zoo Tested Positive for COVID-19. April 8, 2020. Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tiger-bronx-zoo-tested-positive-covid-19-180974624/
• van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med. 2020. Available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973
• WHO. Preliminary estimation of the basic reproduction number of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China, from 2019 to 2020: A data-driven analysis in the early phase of the outbreak - Jan. 30, 2020.
• WHO. Statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) - WHO, January 23, 2020.
• Worldometer. Coronavirus. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/

This podcast will discuss Dental Office Restrictions, Emergency and Urgent Care and Elective vs non-elective procedures, etc. (ADA info included), as well as the screening and handling of patients at the current time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review interim guidance on emergency care and office restrictions.
2. Describe methods to screen patients and what this screening should entail during the current pandemic.

References

• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• American Dental Association. What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? Available at: https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emergency_DDS.pdf
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). How COVID-19 Spreads. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• CDC. Transmission-based Precautions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-based-precautions.html
• Glassman, P. (2016). Teledentistry: Improving oral health using telehealth-connected teams. University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from: http://www.dental.pacific.edu/Documents/departments/pcsc/DQ_WhitePaper_Telehealth_081816.pdf
• Izzetti R, Nisi M, Gabriele M, Graziani F. COVID-19 Transmission in Dental Practice: Brief Review of Preventive Measures in Italy. J Dent Res. 2020 Apr 17:22034520920580. doi: 10.1177/0022034520920580. [Epub ahead of print]
• van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med. 2020. Available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

This podcast will discuss challenges in the dental and dental hygiene educational setting and how these challenges are being met.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Describe the challenges currently facing dental and dental hygiene schools, staff and students.
2. Review examples of methods that have been and may be implemented to meet current challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• American Dental Association. What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? Available at: https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emergency_DDS.pdf
• American Dental Education Association. A Pandemic Resource Guide for Dental Education, Updated April 7, 2020. Available at: https://www.adea.org/COVID19-Update/Pandemic_Guide/.
• American Dental Education Association. Response of the Dental Education Community to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Updated April 7, 2020. Available at: https://www.adea.org/COVID19-Update/
• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. ANSI/AAMI ST79-2017. Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities.  Arlington, VA:
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• CDC. Transmission-based Precautions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-based-precautions.html
• OSAP. Dental Unit Waterline White Paper. Available at: www.osap.org.

This podcast will discuss recommended hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) in dental offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review the methods recommended for hand hygiene
2. List and describe the selection and use of PPE for dental healthcare personnel for the treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• American Dental Association. Interim Mask and Face Shield Guidelines. Available at: https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_Interim_Mask_and_Face_Shield_Guidelines.pdf
• Boyce J. Using alcohol for hand antisepsis: dispelling old myths. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21(7):438-441.
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care Settings.  MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.
• CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2001;7(2). Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/2/ac-0702_article
• CDC. Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Finfection-control%2Fcontrol-recommendations.html
• CDC. NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment Information (PPE-Info). ASTM F2100 - 11(2018). Available at: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/PPEInfo/
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• CDC. Transmission-based Precautions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-based-precautions.html

This podcast will discuss the recommended procedures and products recommended for the management of clinical contact surface for the dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, instrument reprocessing will briefly be addressed.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review the routes of transmission of microorganisms whereby clinical contact surfaces become contaminated.
2. List and describe the steps in the management of clinical contact surfaces. 

References

• Al Maghlouth A, Al Yousef Y, Al-Bagieh NH. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of microbial aerosols in selected areas within the College of Dentistry, King Saud University. Quintessence Int. 2007 May;38(5):e222-8.
• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. ANSI/AAMI ST79-2017. Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities.  Arlington, VA.
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings—2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR- 17):1-66.
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at:  https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• Environmental Protection Agency. List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
• Grenier D. Quantitative Analysis of Bacterial Aerosols in Two Different Dental Clinic Environments. Appl Env Microbiol. 1995;61(8):3165-3168.
• Prospero E, Savini S, Annino I. Microbial aerosol contamination of dental healthcare workers’ faces and other surfaces in dental practice. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2003 Feb;24(2):139-41.
• van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med. 2020. Available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

This podcast will discuss the contamination and routine management of dental unit waterlines. This will be followed by a discussion on what to do when offices reopen after being restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review the contamination of dental unit waterline water and its historical perspective.
2. Describe methods by which the dental unit waterlines in closed and open systems may be monitored and maintained, including when reopening after restricted practice associated with COVID-19.

References

• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings—2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR- 17):1-66.
• CDC. Notes from the Field: Mycobacterium abscessus Infections Among Patients of a Pediatric Dentistry Practice — Georgia, 2015. MMWR 2016;65(13):355-356.
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• Mills S. The dental unit waterline controversy: defusing the myths, defining the solutions. J Am Dent Assoc. 2000;131:1427-1441.
• O’Donnell MJ et al. Management of dental unit waterline biofilms in the 21st century. Future Microbiol. (2011) 6(10), 1209-1226.
• OSAP. Dental Unit Waterline White Paper. Available at: www.osap.org.
• OSHA Review. The DUWL Outbreak in Orange County. Available at: https://oshareview.com/2019/10/the-duwl-outbreak-in-orange-county/
• Porteous N, Sun Y, Schoolfield J. Evaluation of 3 dental unit waterline contamination testing methods. Gen Dent. 2015 Jan-Feb;63(1):41-7.
• Prospero E, Savini S, Annino I: Microbial aerosol contamination of dental healthcare workers’ faces and other surfaces in dental practice.
• Ricci, ML, Fontana, S, Pinci, F, et al. Pneumonia associated with a dental unit waterline. The Lancet. 2012;379(9816):684.

This podcast will discuss origins of dental fear, including due to COVID-19. This is followed by a discussion on ways to try to alleviate patient fear associated with COVID-19 and the dental office.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review causes of fear among patients
2. List and describe methods to help reduce patient fear in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

References

• Ahmed MA, Jouhar R, Ahmed N, Adnan S, Aftab M, Zafar MS, Khurshid Z. Fear and practice modifications among dentists to combat novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:2821. doi:10.3390/ijerph17082821
• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. ANSI/AAMI ST79-2017. Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance in health care facilities.  Arlington, VA.
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
• CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings—2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR- 17):1-66.
• Collins FM, Lamster IB. Anxiety and Endodontic Treatment. Colgate Oral Health Network. Available at: https://www.colgateoralhealthnetwork.com/article/anxiety-and-endodontic-treatment/
• Collins FM. Oral Health Literacy. Colgate Oral Health Network. Available at: https://www.colgateoralhealthnetwork.com/article/oral-health-literacy/
• Huaqiu Guo H, Zhoub Y, Liu X, Tan J. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the utilization of emergency dental services. J Dent Sci, March 2020. In Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jds.2020.02.002
• Kelsch N, Kelsch M. Identifying and Treating Patients with PTSD. Available at: https://www.dentallearning.net/files/PTSD_Web_CE_Bookmark.pdf
• Sherman J, Carlson C, Wilson J, Okeson J, McCubbin J. Posttraumatic stress disorder among patients with orofacial pain. J Orofac Pain. 2005;19(4):309-17.
• Wright E, Thompson R, Paunovich E. Post-traumatic stress disorder: considerations for dentistry. Quintessence Int. 2004;35(3):206-10.

This podcast will discuss the ADA Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit in the context of the anticipated re-opening of dental offices for normal care, which will vary by State and location. Recommendations and actions will be discussed.

Learning objectives

After completing this podcast, listeners should be able to:

1. Review content provided in the Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit discussed in the podcast.
2. List and describe specific recommendations on pre-screening and screening of patients, and infection control procedures.

References

• American Dental Association. Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit. Available at: https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_Return_to_Work_Toolkit.pdf
• American Dental Association. Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission. Available at: https://www.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_COVID_Int_Guidance_Treat_Pts.pdf
• American Dental Association. What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? Available at: https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emergency_DDS.pdf
• CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dental Settings.
• CDC. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). How COVID-19 Spreads. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
• CDC. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html
• CDC. Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings. Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf
• CDC. Transmission-based Precautions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-based-precautions.html
• Environmental Protection Agency. List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
• Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. J Aut. 2020. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841120300469?via%3Dihub