Coronavirus disease (covid- 19): preventive measures in dental care

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), originated in China, has become a major public health challenge for all the countries around the world. The World Health Organization has declared thishappeningas a public health emergency of international concern. As of April 20, 2020, COVID-19 has been recognized to spread globally, with a total of 2,314,621 laboratory-confirmed cases and 1, 57, 847 deaths. Infection control measures are necessary to prevent the virus from spreading further. Considering dental practice, the risk of spreading this infection is very high between patients and dentists. In this regard, for dental clinics and hospitals in affected areas with COVID-19, strict and effective infection control protocols are urgently needed. This article highlights essential knowledge about Covid-19, its spread in dental settings, preventive measures for it and management protocols for dental practitioners, based on relevant guidelines and research.