Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 viral infection and orofacial clefts: A review on patient care during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

To summarize the details on severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) viral infection and the effects of this infection on care of patients with orofacial clefts and provision of guidelines for orofacial cleft surgeries during Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by using recent available literature. PubMed and Google Scholar and current reports from major health bodies such as the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, and major national associations of cleft lip and palate were searched for information which is relevant from orthodontic care for orofacial cleft point of view. Major priority is given to recent articles and peer-reviewed articles. Narration is done due to limitations in the quality of evidence and rapidly evolving information on the nature of COVID-19. Major relevance to the dental field is human-to human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. People who are infected mostly show mild symptoms, but patients with advanced age or any underlying disease or comorbidity may show severe multiorgan complications. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to maintain social distancing and minimize direct contact. Most clinics and hospitals have determined that multidisciplinary visits, feeding, and speech-language evaluations are largely nonessential and can tolerate a delay. A specific plan with good foundation should be followed for emergency orthodontic care with effective communication and triage.