Solutions Based on Ethanol as Disinfection of Dental Elements to Reduce the Spread of SARS COV2 in the Dental Field

On 7 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the Wuhan province of China, which has since caused a worldwide pandemic, with more than 21.2 million confirmed cases and over 760,200 confirmed deaths as of 14 August 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus classified in the family Coronaviridae [1].  

On 7 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the Wuhan province of China, which has since caused a worldwide pandemic, with more than 21.2 million confirmed cases and over 760,200 confirmed deaths as of 14 August 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus classified in the family Coronaviridae [1]. 

In the dental field, the possibility of infection with the virus is among the highest in the medical category [2]. Among the various protocols proposed in the international scientific literature we have the use of 1% hydrogen peroxide-based rinses before the operating session and certainly the use of the rubber dam. Scientific studies have shown that alcohol-based solutions with concentrations higher than 60% are effective against SARS Cov 2. Protocol containing the guidelines for the prevention of MRONJ (Medicate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) proposed to decontaminate the tooth or teeth to be treated with touches with 80% ethanol solutions on the elements after placing the rubber dam [3]. This indication could be useful for decontaminating an area potentially at risk because it is coated with a salivary biofilm maybe infected with SARS COV2. Before operating the turbine, which has the ability to spread the micro droplets that may possibly contain the virus, this manoeuvre could further reduce the possibility of spreading the virus. The use of touches with 80% ethanol before conservative-endodontic treatment could be included in the prevention protocol of the spread of SARS COV 2 in the dental field (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Ethanol solution disinfection on tooth after placement of rubber gum.

1. Hadi J, Dunowska M, Wu S, Brightwell G. Control Measures for SARS-CoV-2: A review on light-based inactivation of single-stranded RNA viruses. Pathogens. 2020; 9: 737.
2. Kochhar AS, Bhasin R, Kochhar GK, Dadlani H. COVID-19 Pandemic and Dental Practice. Int J Dent. 2020; 2020: 8894794.
3. Moinzadeh AT, Shemesh H, Neirynck NA, Aubert C, Wesselink PR. Bisphosphonates and their clinical implications in endodontic therapy. Int Endod J. 2013; 46: 391-398.