COVID-19 Infection and Transmission

The oral cavity is a site for infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2, and subsequently provides a risk for transmission to others due to aerosolized saliva.

A recent study (Huang et al. preprint) which was a multicenter study looking into the role of the oral cavity in infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19).

A lead researcher on the project, Dr. Kevin Byrd, based out of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry and the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute found that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the oral mucosa (gums, lips, cheeks, tongue, tonsils), major, and minor salivary glands.

They discussed the role that the oral cavity played in extraoral transmission, through aerosol of saliva, and the transmission of the virus to the lungs and gut. They observed that individuals who presented with SARS-CoV-2 in their saliva were approximately 6.5X more likely to report a loss of taste or smell.

Wide reports of various symptoms suggest that each individual may have a different immune response or pattern of infection. Further research into these routes of infection and transmission, as well as human immune response to SARS-CoV-2 will certainly be studied.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

COVID-19 Oral Signs & Symptoms

Lips, Cheeks, Tongue - all places where subtle changes can observed during the early infection of COVID-19. A systematic review of 40 studies found 45% of COVID-19 infected individuals presented with oral signs/symptoms including: loss of taste, dry mouth, and blistering of the oral tissues.

COVID tongue is a clinical presentation of your tongue first described in the United Kingdom. The tongue appears enlarged, to the point where the sides of the tongue are scalloped due to tongue pressing against the teeth. Other changes include patches of color changes throughout the surface of the tongue, which are reddish in color with a white to off white halo surrounding the red lesions. These lesions are typically not circles, but rather odd shaped rings that can mimic geographic tongue (benign migratory glossitis).

Lips and cheek lesions present much like canker sores (aphthous ulcers). These superficial changes can blister and form ulcers and appear on the lips, lining of the cheeks, and gum tissues. These symptoms often appear within the first few days of infection, and do not appear in all cases, however, some cases these are some of the only symptoms.

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.

Periodontitis linked to COVID-19 complications

Patients who have periodontal disease were found to have an increased risk for complications due to COVID-19.

The study found that periodontal patients were:

3.5 times more likely to be admitted to an ICU

4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator

9 times more likely to die from COVID-19

A recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology by investigators in Qatar found that patients who have periodontal disease are at increased risk for severe complications and unfavorable outcomes when infected with COVID-19. Investigators found increased levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and overall white blood cell levels in patients who required ventilation or were admitted to the ICU as compared to those who did not require advanced treatment for COVID-19.

https://www.efp.org/news-events/news/jcp-study-shows-that-periodontitis-is-linked-to-covid-19-complications-30539/

Dr. Davis spoke with TV6 Assistant News Director and Early Morning News Anchor, Andrew LaCombe regarding this study, and to raise awareness that dental patients should continue to seek treatment during the pandemic.

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2021/02/24/study-periodontitis-is-linked-to-covid-19-complications/

A healthier smile starts with you.

Take control of your dental health.

We are here to help.