Amidst the uncertainty and worry about the international outbreak of COVID-19, here are some frequently asked questions about dental treatment during this period:
Is it safe to continue my regular dental checkups?
Yes! Most dentistry is done by appointment, so you should be the only patient in the treatment room at any one time.
All dental equipment that will be used in your mouth (mirrors, scalers, polishing cups, etc) or that will come in contact with your blood or saliva (dental bibs, cups for rinsing) are either steam sterilized or disposed (single use) after use. The dental chair and equipment are cleaned and changed before the next patient is seated.
Dental clinics practice universal precautions at all times as is standard.
What precautions do dental clinics take to prevent cross-infection?
Dental clinics are well-equipped to prevent cross-infection (infection being passed from one patient to another) since universal precautions are practised.
Universal precautions guard against the transmission of blood-borne (HIV, Hepatitis B and C), saliva-borne (Hepatitis B) and aerosol-borne (common cold, influenza, SARS) diseases from one patient to another, or from a patient to a member of the clinical staff (dentists, nurses, etc).
Universal precautions take into account the fact that carriers of these diseases may not be aware that they have been infected, or that patients may choose to withhold such information for various reasons (fear of being rejected for treatment, concerns about privacy, concerns about being morally judged etc).
All sensitive healthcare-related information is protected by the PDPA and most national ethical codes of practice require dentists maintain patient confidentiality in these matters. Hiding such information from your dentist is harmful to not only the clinical staff but also to the wider community, especially during the time of a novel infectious outbreak.
It is standard practice for equipment used in the mouth to be sterilized or disposed of. Surfaces that are potentially contaminated with aerosol (fine droplets) are also disinfected in between patients. Some clinics may also have air purifiers within the premises to reduce the amount of aerosol in the environment.
Personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, eye protection) is used routinely in dental practice, even when there is no outbreak of infectious disease. Hand hygiene, with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, is standard clinical practice.
Pre-rinsing with chlorhexidine is useful to lower the number of viable microbes in saliva prior to dental treatment.
Should I postpone dental treatment?
There is no medical reason to postpone your scheduled dental treatment unless you are showing signs of potential COVID-19 infection, including [1]:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Recent travel history to China, or recent contact with a confirmed COV19 case.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please inform your dentist immediately. Most dental clinics are enforcing a minimum 14 day waiting period for patients with these symptoms before rescheduling your appointment.
Are there certain groups of patients who should avoid going to the dentist during this period?
Very young children or elderly patients may want to avoid elective dental procedures during this period.
If you practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your face with your hands, then there is little chance that you will become infected by keeping your dental appointments.
What can I do to limit my exposure to COVID-19 in the dental office?
Avoid peak periods when waiting areas can be crowded. Ask if your dentist has online pre-registration that you can complete at home before coming in to reduce the amount of time spent waiting in common areas and to reduce the need to touch surfaces (tablets, registration pads, pens etc).
Ask for hand sanitizer or access to soap and water to clean your hands before entering the treatment room and before removing your dentures, aligners or retainers. Do the same again before leaving the room.
