Coronavirus has changed everything, and dental care is no exception. As you know, Coronavirus is a respiratory disease that is more likely to be transmitted in the dental clinics.
Healthy people may be exposed to Coronavirus in the dental clinic. Besides, high touch surfaces in dental clinics, such as keys, handles, and valves, may be infected. The virus is not a bacterial infection, so it cannot be treated with antibiotics.
According to the University of Ottawa, “Many individuals who come to the clinic are at a higher risk of complications from the virus so it’s important to protect those who are vulnerable.” Moreover, dentists are at risk of infection.
Today, due to the spread of Coronavirus, personal hygiene should be observed, both by the patient and by the dentists. According to Dental Clinic Toronto, “Cleaning processes used during a procedure may be altered or increased, but as masks, gloves, and sanitizing processes are used in all situations, many of these processes are already well used, well-practiced, and will help maintain the health of everyone involved.”
Many dental procedures are postponed to prevent the transmission and spread of the Coronavirus. However, the dentists are allowed to perform only emergency procedures.
Which Dental Treatments Are Not Allowed During COVID-19 Outbreak?
Unnecessary dental care should be postponed, including routine examinations and treatments where there is no pain, bleeding, or swelling. Therefore, treatments such as teeth whitening, restoration, and filling of teeth are not a priority. Other dental problems that their treatments should be postponed include dental implants, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), teeth tartar removal or scaling, a loose tooth that there is not the chance of falling off, and so on.
Some patients need emergency treatment for acute dental problems, such as:
– Tooth extraction or root canals when the patient has severe pain due to injury, inflammation, or tooth nerve death.
– Damage to the upper teeth in the anterior maxilla due to car accident
– Management of wounds or other problems related to the gum surface covering
– Patients with complex medical problems that, if left untreated, can worsen and threaten their overall health.
– When the patient is referred to the emergency dental clinic for medical treatment.
What Happens If I Have COVID-19 or If I Am at Risk?
If you need immediate dental treatment and think you may have COVID-19, contact the emergency dentist to decide what to do.
You may be able to receive your treatment at the emergency dental clinic, or you will be referred to a hospital with the proper and right facilities.
Besides, According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, if you need any assessment or testing for COVID-19, you can complete the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.
What Can I Do During Coronavirus Outbreak?
Coronavirus will be with us for a long time. Therefore, it is essential to take care of your oral health by practicing good oral and dental hygiene.
“The limits of what we can achieve — even locally, in terms of COVID control — is set by the weakest health care systems globally,” says Sarah Fortune, chair of the Harvard T.H. Chan, School Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, speaking on a media conference call Thursday morning. She adds, “I do fear, where the health-care system is very fragile, what comes next is the pandemic playing out in a really catastrophic way.”