Monkeypox and the dental practice

Dental care workers should note that the premonitory signs of the contagious Monkeypox (PMX) disease usually appear on the oral mucosa as macules and ulcers prior to the characteristic skin lesions, according to a recent study published in the International Dental Journal.

Authored by Prof Lakshman Samaranayake and Prof Sukumaran Anil, the article “The Monkeypox Outbreak and Implications for Dental Practice” reviews the salient features of the Monkeypox disease and its possible impact on dentistry.

Read our Q&A with Prof Lakshman Samaranayake “In the Hot Seat of Dental Journalism”.

Original source still a mystery

According to the paper, MPX has reemerged in more than 88 countries in Europe, North America, and Australia, with some 22000 case reports to date (as of July 2022).

The article recommends “implementing standard, contact, and droplet infection control measures, patient isolation, and referral” – noting their particular importance, during a local outbreak.

“Surprisingly, the original source of the disease is still a mystery,” the authors wrote,

“In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to rename the MPXV due to the concerns for the stigmatization of monkeys, particularly as the animals have little to do with disease spread.”

“A vaccine specific for MPX is under development, although the smallpox vaccine appears to be effective.”

Unlikely to pose major threat

According to the authors, MPX is not as contagious or infectious as SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19, and is unlikely to pose a major threat to the dental team.

“The MPXV is not readily transmissible through the airborne route, although such a possibility always exists,” they added.

“Nevertheless, as healthcare professionals, the dental team should be cognizant of the key aspects of this disease as appertaining to dentistry, such as its transmission routes, clinical manifestations, as well as diagnostic and prevention strategies.”

Click here to read “The Monkeypox Outbreak and Implications for Dental Practice”.