A patient with active tuberculosis presents with pain and swelling requiring dental treatment. What is the ideal management?

Active tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei. Dental procedures that generate aerosols (such as use of high-speed handpieces or ultrasonic scalers) pose a significant transmission risk. If dental treatment of an active TB patient is absolutely necessary (e.g., dental emergency), it should be provided in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) with negative pressure ventilation, and all staff must wear N95 or higher respirators. Non-emergency dental treatment should be deferred until the patient has completed the infectious phase of treatment (typically after 2-3 weeks of effective anti-TB therapy and confirmed non-infectiousness). Simply using universal precautions is insufficient for active TB.