Manual vs Mechanical Oral Hygiene Procedures: Has the Role of the Dental Hygienist in Phase 2 Post-lockdown Really Changed?

Purpose: Some authors have highlighted the danger of intraoral use of rotating instruments which can produce droplets and aerosols. During the Covid lockdown phase, dental operators were limited to providing emergency treatment that could not be postponed. Therefore, it is necessary for the dental team to restart safely to treat neglected oral diseases that may also affect systemic health. The role of the dental hygienist has apparently changed for procedures performed close to the patient's oral cavity, particularly in terms of the droplets and aerosols produced during oral hygiene practices. Through an analysis of the most recent literature on the use of dedicated PPE and changed post-Covid 19 work processes, and a review of the differences between manual causal therapy and mechanical therapy in terms of outcome after oral hygiene treatment, we define how the role of the dental hygienist can change positively. Materials and Methods: Narrative reviews of the literature in terms of PPE adopted and oral hygiene procedures performed were carried out in Pubmed. Results: 188 articles from February 2020 to May 2020 using the search terms 'dentistry' and 'covid-19' were examined. 10 reviews of the literature were performed using the search terms 'mechanical procedures' and 'manual hygiene'. Conclusion: Only continuous update of evidence-based literature on the new standards in oral hygiene procedures and the different results yielded by different procedures can ensure a safe working environment for the dental hygienist while supporting the dentist in this phase of the pandemic.