Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in various environments and patients in dental units and dental clinics

Dentists and their assistants are possible targets for SARS-CoV-2 because they perform aerosol-generating procedures close to the oral cavity and nasopharynx. This study aimed to investigate SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples and patients applying to restorative dental clinics on the same day with the highest aerosol generation potential and contribute to existing disinfection procedures. Saliva samples and three different environmental samples (cuspidor, visor and gown cuffs) from each patient were stored in Viral Transport Medium at -80 °C. Simultaneously with sample collection, each patient filled out an information form about COVID-19. Qualitative detection of ORF1ab and N genes specific to SARS-CoV-2 was studied repeatedly using the qRT-PCR method. Illumina Viral Surveillance Panel v2 Kit was used for sequence analysis of the positive samples. Out of the samples belonging to 100 patients, SARS CoV-2 RNA positivity was observed in three (3%) patient samples and four (1.3%) environmental samples consisting of two aprons, one spittoon, and one visor, while the mean Cycle threshold value was 28.2[27.79-28.88] in patients and 26.9[21.23-31.73] in environmental samples. While SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found positive in the saliva samples of patients who answered yes to the contact history (p < 0.001), no statistically significant relationship was observed between the SARS-CoV-2 RNA results in all samples of participants with chronic diseases (p = 0.288-0.698).SARS -CoV-2 may cause cross-contamination in dental clinics because of aerosol-generating processes; therefore, practical and up-to-date disinfection procedures should be developed to control this situation.