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Review
. 2020 Mar 3;12(1):9.
doi: 10.1038/s41368-020-0075-9.

Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice

Xian Peng  1 , Xin Xu  1 , Yuqing Li  1 , Lei Cheng  1 , Xuedong Zhou  2 , Biao Ren  3
Affiliations
Review

Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice

Xian Peng et al. Int J Oral Sci. .

Abstract

A novel β-coronavirus (2019-nCoV) caused severe and even fetal pneumonia explored in a seafood market of Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, and rapidly spread to other provinces of China and other countries. The 2019-nCoV was different from SARS-CoV, but shared the same host receptor the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The natural host of 2019-nCoV may be the bat Rhinolophus affinis as 2019-nCoV showed 96.2% of whole-genome identity to BatCoV RaTG13. The person-to-person transmission routes of 2019-nCoV included direct transmission, such as cough, sneeze, droplet inhalation transmission, and contact transmission, such as the contact with oral, nasal, and eye mucous membranes. 2019-nCoV can also be transmitted through the saliva, and the fetal-oral routes may also be a potential person-to-person transmission route. The participants in dental practice expose to tremendous risk of 2019-nCoV infection due to the face-to-face communication and the exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, and the handling of sharp instruments. Dental professionals play great roles in preventing the transmission of 2019-nCoV. Here we recommend the infection control measures during dental practice to block the person-to-person transmission routes in dental clinics and hospitals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustration of transmission routes of 2019-nCoV in dental clinics and hospitals
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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