How Dental Offices are Responding to the Coronavirus (COVID -19) Transmission Prevention Efforts

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has challenged all members of society to step up and do their parts. For many people, that involves staying home. For business owners, it entails closing their doors. What about dentists, though, who often offer a mix of both elective and emergency oral health care services? How are dental offices responding to the COVID-19 outbreak?

ADA recommendations during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak

Though the American Dental Association holds the stance that routine dental care is crucial to overall health, it cannot refute the fact that social distancing, at this time, takes precedence over checkups and routine maintenance. After carefully considering the health and well-being of the overall public and dental teams across the nation, the ADA issued its recommendation.

On March 16, 2020, the ADA asked all dental offices to postpone elective treatments and offer only emergency care while the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) still poses a considerable public health threat. However, it asks dentists to continue to provide emergency dental care. In doing so, the dental field can help alleviate the burden on hospitals’ emergency departments. The ADA asks dental professionals to use their discretion in determining what and what does not constitute an urgent dental matter.

Responses of dental offices to ADA recommendations

The majority of dental offices have responded to the ADA’s recommendations with the gravity that such a situation requires. Dental clinics across the country have changed practice hours to align with ADA guidelines. Some now offer reduced hours, while several smaller practices have elected to shut down operations entirely amid the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Those that do remain open cater only to emergency patients and, even then, take careful measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

Defining emergency dental situations

Though the ADA left it up to each individual dentist to determine what and what does not constitute an emergency dental situation, the majority of dental professionals can agree on what an emergency looks like. In general, a dental emergency is characterized by one or more incidents that require immediate treatment:

• Bleeding in the mouth
• Severe toothache
• Swelling of the gums, face or neck
• Infection
• Trauma
• Tooth fracture, breakage or loss

Preventing transmission in the office

Dental facilities that have chosen to stay open are taking drastic measures to prevent transmission of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the office. Prevention efforts begin with a thorough over-the-phone screening process. If a patient does require urgent care, dentists try to stagger in-office appointments and take measures to keep patients six feet apart. Many have also implemented stricter hygiene standards.

Many dentists continue to monitor all patients’ well-being via telemedicine platforms. These platforms also allow oral health care professionals to manage patients’ treatment plans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Conclusion

During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak, everyone, including dental health care professionals, is asked to take extra precautions to keep themselves and the public safe. If you require emergency dental care but are worried about the risk of receiving treatment at this time, contact your dental office to see what measures it is taking to keep patients safe.

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