13 May 2021

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Chemical disinfectants in dentistry in the COVID-19 era: ‘common sense’ versus ‘COVID-19 sense’

Authors: SJÖGREN PETTERI, DDS, PHD AND ZIMMERMAN MIKAEL, DDS, PHD, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Katherine E. Pfaff

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A new coronavirus, subsequently named Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified in December 2019 in China, causing previously unknown pneumonia in humans. This novel disease was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which rapidly progressed into a pandemic. Among dental practitioners, this new situation raised many questions on how to effectively protect themselves, their patients, and their surrounding from being infected. This led us to consider the major differences in ‘common sense’ versus ‘COVID-19 sense’ when it comes to this novel situation in dentistry. During many dental procedures, we are constantly surrounded by a plenitude of potentially infectious microorganisms, and it is of fundamental importance to be able to control them, and their locations. For this purpose, chemical disinfectants remain an important part, set in relation to the potential risks for infection, linked to the intended use of dental instruments, medical devices, and other equipment.

In this paper, we summarize a number of chemical disinfectants that are commonly used in dental practices, focusing on alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, halogens, hypochlorite, chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds. These chemical disinfectants are discussed from an antimicrobial perspective, and in relation to COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2.