Key points Uncertainty and the emerging evidence that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted via airborne routes has implications for practising dental procedures that generate aerosols. There are evidence-based treatments including use of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants, atraumatic restorative treatment, silver diamine fluoride, the Hall Technique and resin infiltration, which remove or reduce aerosol generation during the management of carious lesions. This risk reduction approach for aerosol generation may guide practitioners to overcome the less favourable outcomes associated with temporary solutions or extraction-only approaches in caries management. Zusatzmaterial online: Zu diesem Beitrag sind unter 10.1038/s41415-020-2153-y für autorisierte Leser zusätzliche Dateien abrufbar.