The ease with which COVID-19 spreads, has led to the shutdown of lot of essential services. While many other medical services can be availed despite restrictions, dental treatments are the most impacted. COVID-19 can spread easily when you visit a dentist because of the way a dentist works on your teeth.
When dentists work on your teeth, they use certain instruments which generate dental aerosols. These instruments produce droplets or sprays or saliva or blood in the air. Since COVID-19 is spread from an infected person, this leaves you and your dentist more vulnerable to COVID-19 because of aerosols from an infected person or landing on surfaces of the dental clinic.
Due to the pandemic, regular visits to the dentist for an oral checkup, is impractical hence, it is advised that patients take utmost care of their oral hygiene by regular brushing and flossing.
In dental emergencies, like swelling or bleeding gums or pus discharge, dental treatment should not be deferred. In such cases, Dentists and patients will have to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
The guidelines issued for dental clinics include precautions to be taken by the dentist like disinfecting the clinic regularly, use of PPEs(Personal Protective Equipment), and performing only emergency dental services till the spread of the pandemic subsides.
Patients’ safety protocols have been enlisted as well, starting with what a patient should do before he enters a dental clinic:
- Call up your doctor and fix the time of the appointment, so you don’t have to wait in the clinic. This ensures that social distancing is maintained.
- Make sure your doctor knows what medication you are taking, and take along your past reports and X- rays so that a second visit can be avoided.
- Patients will also have to wear a PPE which is provided by the dental clinic before getting on the chair.
- Patients will also be given a 0.2 Povidone-Iodine mouthwash so that the oral load is reduced significantly and the patient is made to sit on the chair with their own disposable gowns, and the procedure can be started.
- Patients are also advised to carry their own disinfectant and their temperature will be checked at the entrance.
Dr. Amanda Ferreira