The WHO declares it wants more research to be conducted into the spread of COVID-19 in dental environments

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced it wants more research to be conducted into the spread of COVID-19 in dental environments. Furthermore, the organisation outlined that every dental practice must have sufficient ventilation in place to decrease the chance of COVID-19 spreading and warned of the unpredictable consequences for both patients and staff of aerosol-generating procedures.

A WHO dental officer, Benoit Varenne, stated: “WHO guidance recommends in case of community transmission to give priority to urgent or emergency oral cases, to avoid or minimise procedures that may generate aerosol, prioritise a set of clinical interventions that are performed using an instrument and delay routine non essential oral health care. The likelihood of COVID-19 being transmitted through aerosol, micro-particles or airborne particles, today, I think is unknown, it’s open to question at least. This means that more research is needed. We think that the most pressing issue is related to the availability of essential personal protective equipment, PPE, for all health care personnel undertaking or assisting in the clinical procedures.”