WHO guidance
ITCOULD send the wrong message. That’s what may happen with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation that non-emergency dental visits should be postponed in areas with high COVID-19 transmission rates. That is, for patients to avoid in going to a dental clinic. That is, routine dental procedures to slow consultations can be made through the spread of COVID-19. the Internet, by email and by mobile On Aug. 3 the WHO said going to phones and other social media the dentist be postponed until such devices. time that COVID- 19 transmission Missing dental appointments rates are reduced from community could lead to even worsen oral health spread to cluster cases or when issues for both patients and the public health authorities so advice. healthcare system in the long term. Emergency dental care i s “Our concern is if we continue exempted to avoid more serious delaying or postponing treatments oral health issues. the outcome will be very bad and it
WHO says checkups and cleanings will be very difficult to catch up,” says should be postponed because Dr. Eli Eliav, director of the Eastman dentists are exposed to saliva, blood Institute for Oral Health in Rochester. and aerosols which may harbor the He believes there is no reason to coronavirus. return to the precautions taken in
The recommendation is valid. March when little was known about Dentists “work in close proximity the virus and cases were going up. to patients’ faces, for a prolonged That was a time when lockdowns period of time,” the United Nations led to the suspension of dental highest health care body cautions. procedures except for emergency
Dentists are closely exposed to cases. saliva and blood perhaps more than Dr. Eliav says emergency other health front liners except those treatments have more than doubled. in ICU and surgery rooms. “And one of the reasons is the delay
Still, t he American Dental people had with their treatments.” Association ( ADA) disagrees. The reason is that patients were “Dentistry is essential health care missing out on important routine because of its role in evaluating, care, says Dr. Yan-Fang Ren, also of diagnosing, preventing or treating the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. oral diseases, which can affect “Oral care is very important, so if systemic health,” it says. you delay you will run into trouble,”
Dentists are also worried, and said Dr. Ren. with good reason too. Routine visits “If you don’t do that routine may uncover symptoms of other check-up, bacteria will build up on diseases that first appear in the teeth and gums, so gum infection mouth – such as diabetes, liver or cavities will progress to a degree diseases and cancers. of pain and infection … you have to
Delaying treatment may cause come to urgent care and a treatment dental issues to get worse. Without a much more complicated will be filling, a small cavity, for example, may needed. You want to come in early, become a dental abscess or infection. and prevent this from happening.” Then it becomes an emergency case. “Oral health is integral to overall
Treating patients in dental clinics health,” says Dr. Jay Freedman, ADA is always preferable to treating them President. “Dentistry is essential in Emergency Rooms. health care.”
A virtual clinic is also possible for He says dentists are familiar patients who are not comfortable with many infectious diseases and are following safety protocols recommended by the ADA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC.
“There are about 40,000 publications about this disease, so we know a lot more, and we are pretty sure protective measures are very effective,” says Dr. Ren.
In the United States many dentists designate parking lots as waiting areas before patients, pre-screened for COVID-19 symptoms, are allowed inside clinics.
Dentists, the clinic staff and patients are all screened with health checklists such as a temperature check.
There is air filtration and even high-speed suctions that capture 97 percent of aerosols generated during dental procedures.
Dentists and dental staff wear extra Personal Protective Equipment, all use N95 respirators with facial masks on top, hair covers, face shields and gowns. Rooms where procedures are conducted are routinely disinfected.
The bottom line, dentists advice, is for patients to take good care of their teeth and gums by following good oral health habits such as regularly brushing and flossing the teeth.
Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of
or Dental Implantology. questions on dental health, e-mail text 0917
Treating patients in dental clinics is always preferable to treating them in Emergency Rooms. A virtual clinic is also possible for patients who are not comfortable in going to a dental clinic.