How Safe are Dental Clinic Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Dentists take extra precautions in terms of keeping their environment clean and sanitized to prevent the coronavirus transmission. Untreated dental diseases can affect the systemic health and can cause heart condition, so it is important to visit a dentist for optimal oral health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left people feeling apprehensive about making appointments with dentists. According to latest findings, a visit to a dental clinic is low risk for coronavirus transmission because dentists are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure patient safety.

Cecile A. Feldman, dean of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, explains why a visit to the dentist is low risk according to current knowledge of the virus and why it’s important to keep up with dental visits.

Coronavirus
Coronaviruses infect animals, humans, and birds. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV cause respiratory distress and even death. The S protein is the infectious agent of the virus.

‘Dentists keep their offices, and instruments clean and sterilized to ensure patient safety and prevent the spread of coronavirus transmission. Dental clinics use high-efficiency air filters to decrease the amount of recirculated air. Patients are brought to clinics according to the severity of their condition and not allowed to gather outside.’
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Is it safe to go to the dentist during the pandemic?

Yes, because of the precautions dentists are taking. In keeping with American Dentistry Association guidelines, patients at the dental school are screened for symptoms both the night before and the day of an appointment. At the dental school, we require patients to wear face coverings when entering the building and our providers wear gowns, gloves, face shields, head covers, surgical gowns and N95 masks. The CDC issued guidelines for re-opening in June, and the American Dentistry Association encourages regular dental visits. The World Health Organization recommends continuing routine care except in hot spots where there is “intense uncontrolled community transmission,” which isn’t the case in New Jersey right now.

Why is it important to continue dental visits?

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Untreated dental disease is only going to get worse. And we know there’s a link between oral health and systemic health. For example, poor periodontal health is associated with heart disease. The providers at the dental school are finding that our patients have been eager to come back.

Are there any documented instances of patients contracting COVID from dental visits?

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None that I know of. Especially for the past 35 years, dentists have known the importance of using PPE and keeping their offices and dental instruments clean. In the 1980s, before the HIV/AIDs crisis, dentists didn’t wear gloves, masks, surgical gowns or eye protection. With COVID, when we know more, we’ll be able to determine if the extra precautions we’re taking are necessary.

What other measures were instituted at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine to help protect patients and providers?

Dental Check-Up
It is commonly recommended that you visit the dentist twice a year to clean your teeth and gums and also do the basic check–ups.

We’ve added high-efficiency air filters that improve the amount of outside air and decrease the amount of recirculated air. Student doctors meet patients and bring them to clinics to reduce the number of people in waiting areas. Patients cannot bring extra people unless absolutely necessary. We’re at half-capacity so there are 20 feet between every patient. We continue to use high-speed suction devices, now with an additional student assigned just to hold the suction device to ensure the collection of aerosols.

Source-Newswise