Povidone-iodine preprocedural rinse—An evidence-based, second-line defense against severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in dental healthcare

Maurya, Raj Kumar; Singh, Harpreet; Kapoor, Pranav; Sharma, Poonam; Srivastava, Dhirendra

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges to dentistry as a profession and has prompted dental healthcare professionals worldwide to risk manage the delivery of dental care by taking cognizance of the necessity for enhanced safety standards, including enhanced 'personal protective equipment' and 'infection prevention and control' measures. Even so, in light of the perceived vulnerability to the coronavirus infection in dental settings or becoming potential carriers in dental settings, implications for resumption of routine dental care are enormous and cannot be ignored. While reconciling the fact that post-pandemic resurgences can occur in future, safeguarding the oral health care workforce and patients becomes even more pertinent considering the perceived vulnerability to the SARS-CoV-2 infection in dental healthcare. With growing body of direct evidence consistently supporting the effectiveness of Povidone-Iodine against SARS-CoV-2, it would be reasonable to prioritize the use of PVP-I as an effective and adjunctive procedural risk mitigation measure in dental healthcare occupation in the contemporary pandemic crisis and through unforeseen similar pandemic threats.