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Review
. 2020 Aug;35(4):141-145.
doi: 10.1111/omi.12289. Epub 2020 May 31.

Saliva is a non-negligible factor in the spread of COVID-19

Yuqing Li  1 , Biao Ren  1 , Xian Peng  1 , Tao Hu  1 , Jiyao Li  1 , Tao Gong  1 , Boyu Tang  1 , Xin Xu  1 , Xuedong Zhou  1
Affiliations
Review

Saliva is a non-negligible factor in the spread of COVID-19

Yuqing Li et al. Mol Oral Microbiol. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, a novel emerging coronavirus, has caused severe disease (COVID-19), and rapidly spread worldwide since the beginning of 2020. SARS-CoV-2 mainly spreads by coughing, sneezing, droplet inhalation, and contact. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in saliva samples, making saliva a potential transmission route for COVID-19. The participants in dental practice confront a particular risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to close contact with the patients and potential exposure to saliva-contaminated droplets and aerosols generated during dental procedures. In addition, saliva-contaminated surfaces could lead to potential cross-infection. Hence, the control of saliva-related transmission in the dental clinic is critical, particularly in the epidemic period of COVID-19. Based on our experience of the COVID-19 epidemic, some protective measures that can help reduce the risk of saliva-related transmission are suggested, in order to avoid the potential spread of SARS-CoV-2 among patients, visitors, and dental practitioners.

Keywords: clinical practice guidelines; dental public health; epidemiology; infection control; infectious disease(s); oral medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(a) An example of transmission‐based precautions to avoid saliva‐contaminated splatters, droplets and aerosols in the epidemic period of COVID‐19. (b) When rubber dam is applied, extra high‐volume evacuation along with regular saliva ejector should be used to reduce splatters, droplets and aerosols as much as possible
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