The outbreak of the COVID-19 had shut down thousands of dental specialists and dentists all over the world. As countries have now declared the restart of routine oral and dental care, the major issue now is how to offer safe dental healthcare. It is now time to go beyond the treatment of urgent oral care and plan for the resumption of routine oral care. Time has also come to take care of all those dental patients who are unwilling to visit a dental clinic. It is undoubtedly a challenging job as there is still uncertainty looming over the pandemic’s resolution.
As you all would
be aware that there is a possibility for COVID infected people, both
asymptomatic, as well as, symptomatic to transmit the deadly virus to other
individuals. So, it is hardly surprising that there is a high threat for
dentists to become exposed to the virus and transmit it to other dental staff
or patients. A few dental processes can even lead to the generation of aerosol,
increasing the risk of transmission to patients via direct contact or
inhalation of contaminated surfaces.
Challenges for the safety of dental patients
Dental
professionals are well-acquainted with their occupational health problems after
the outbreak of the coronavirus. However, they have been all engaged in risk assessments
so that such risks can be reduced. Go to
any reputed London
dentist and you will find
how they are maintaining strict hygiene these days.
It is a known
fact that most of the individuals who are infected with COVID may not have any
signs, which resemble influenza or seasonal allergies. As such, there are a
large number of cases that remain undiagnosed. Thus, dentists should not take
asymptomatic dental patients lightly. Hence, dentists all over the world need
to deploy a routine procedure for screening their staff, as well as, patients.
It will ensure that the symptomatic patients along with the exposed people stay
at home to ensure that both dental personnel and other patients are safe.
On the other hand,
when dental care is delayed, patients are facing different types of
consequences. When dental visits are routine, there are opportunities for
preventive oral health care such as the application of sealants and fluoride
treatment. Thus, dentists today are trying to balance between the risks posed
by undetected COVID-infected people and providing routine oral care.
Dental
professional have been adhering to stringent safety norms
It is imperative to note that dentists have always tried to adhere to stringent health and hygiene norms even before the global pandemic started. A good London dentist, for instance, has been religiously trying to abide by all standard protocols for his/her dental clinic. These include wearing protective kits such as goggles, masks, and surgical gloves to lower the possibility of transmitting the deadly virus between their patients.
Post a Comment