Estimating Salivary Carriage of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Nonsymptomatic People and Efficacy of Mouthrinse in Reducing Viral Load. Authors of this article undertook two studies to understand levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva of potential dental patients and to test how well mouthrinses worked to lower the virus levels. These studies revealed two key findings:

1. Saliva caries a high rate of virus in nonsymptomatic patients, although low enough that the likelihood of transmission is also low.

2. A mouthrinse of 1% hydrogen peroxide, 0.12% chlorhexidine, or 0.5% povidone-iodine for 60 seconds works well to reduce virus levels in saliva for up to 45 minutes.

To read the full article, click here. (November 18, 2021)

The Physiological Burden of Prolonged PPE Use on Healthcare Workers during Long Shifts. This blog from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) reports that healthcare personnel who have adopted the regular use of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), elastomeric half-mask respirators, and powered air-supplied respirators (PAPRs) may experience a variety of physiological effects from wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout long shifts. These include:

  • Headache
  • Increased pressure inside the skull
  • Nervous system changes
  • Increased breathing frequency
  • Increased “work of breathing”
  • Cardiovascular effects
  • Reduced tolerance to lighter workloads

The authors share that there are several steps healthcare management and personnel can take to avoid experiencing negative effects from prolonged PPE use. To learn about the steps to you can take, click here. (Updated January 25, 2021)

PPE Product List, Chicago Dental Society. The Chicago Dental Society offers a list of personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers tailored for dentists. The list, organized by product type, is straight forward and wonderfully easy to navigate to help you focus on getting back to what you like to do best, patient care. To access the PPE products list, click here. (Updated January 4, 2021)

PPE Provider Directory, Chicago Dental Society. A companion site to the PPE Product List from the Chicago Dental Society, this directory of personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers includes contact information for ordering supplies and as well as estimated delivery times to help you manage your inventory. Click here to view. (Updated January 4, 2021)

N-95 Respirators and Surgical Masks. For those looking for a general overview of respirators and masks, the Food and Drug Administration offers this webpage that covers a variety of considerations about risk mitigation in healthcare during COVID-19. Click here to view. (Current as of September 15, 2021)

 

More Resources:

Using PPE When Caring for People with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19, CDC. Click here to view. (Updated June 3, 2020)

Healthcare Respiratory Protection Resources, NIOSH. Click here to view. (Updated May 7, 2020)

Respiratory Protection Standard, OSHA. Click here to view. (May 4, 2020)

Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-19: A Review for Surgeons from the Annals of Surgery. Click here to view. (May 1, 2020)

Additional Respiratory Guidance for Healthcare, U.S. Department of Labor. Click here to view. (April 24, 2020)

PPE Training for Staff Spanish/English Poster, CDC. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

The Right Mask for the Right Task. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

Safety of Extended Use and Reuse of N95 Respirators, ECRI. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

How to Properly Put on and Remove a Disposable Respirator. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

Understanding the Difference Between Mask and Respirator, NIOSH. Click here to view.  (April 28, 2020)

How to Perform a User Seal Check with an N95 Respirator, OSHA. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

Medical Evaluation for Workers Who Use Respirators, OSHA. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

Respirator Fit Testing, OSHA. Click here to view. (April 28, 2020)

Protecting Surgical Teams During the COVID-19 Outbreak, A Narrative Review and Clinical Considerations. Click here to view. (April 17, 2020)

Temporary Enforcement Guidance - Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak, OSHA. Click here to view. (Correction April 14, 2020)

Fit testing requirements for employees who wear respirators to protect against M. Tuberculosis, OSHA. Click here to view. (February 5, 2004)