COVID-19 in Children: Its Impact on Oral Health and Paediatric Dentistry

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel strain of coronavirus that has not been recognized in humans earlier. The disease originated in China and has now become a pandemic affecting countries worldwide. The clinical characteristics in children seems to be milder as compared to adults, but the exact clinical features related COVID-19 is still unknown and unclear. This is the reason why a child can be considered as a “Silent carrier” for COVID-19. However, the importance of children in transmitting the virus remains undefined. During this period of pandemic, management of child's oral health presents specific difficulties related to the infectious spread of the disease. Dental clinics and Dental hospitals are considered to be hotspot for any type of cross contamination which may eventually result in transmission of disease. Hence, paediatric dentist are in a unique situation as they are approached for the assessment and management of odontogenic pain, swelling and dental alveolar trauma in these children. The purpose of this article is to review the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric dentistry and paediatric oral health.