Isolation Through Rubber Dam to Prevent COVID-19 Exposure During Flapless Trans-Crestal Sinus Lift Procedures
In 2020, a highly infective new pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) spread from China to the whole globe, and became responsible for an acute respiratory syndrome, often asymptomatic but potentially lethal, named COVID-19. Airborne and direct contact contamination are the major infection pathways of SARS-CoV-2 and it has been shown that virus spread can also happen in absence of clinical symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 transmission during dental procedures can happen through inhalation of droplets from infected patients or direct contact with mucous membranes, oral fluids, and contaminated instruments. Sinus lift and implant surgeries often involve bleeding and exposure to oral fluids, and a rubber dam could be used to reduce direct contact and the amount of potentially infected aerosol. The aim of this short case presentation is to illustrate how the use of a rubber dam could be extremely useful in preventing COVID-19 exposure during flapless transcrestal sinus lift procedures.
Figure 1. Radiographic view of the upper left sextant 1 month after extraction of the first upper left premolar. Bone plates and mini-screws are related to a previous orthognathic surgery performed 10 years ago. Figure 2. The rubber dam isolates the upper left sextant, arranging metal clamps on the second molar and on the lateral incisor. Figure 3. Through a flapless procedure, a dental implant is placed simultaneously to a transcrestal sinus lift procedure. Figure 4. Radiographic view of the implant placed after autogenous bone expansion and condensation underneath the elevated sinus floor.
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