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Dentist vs COVID-19, How Could This Happen?

Dentist vs COVID-19, How Could This Happen?

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Dentist vs Covid-19 | Coronavirus cases in Indonesia have seen a steep rise over the last couple of weeks, leading to school and shop closures and the nation ordered to stay at home. But what should we do if we have a dental emergency? What is considered a dental emergency itself? What should we do if we have some dental issues? Let’s discuss a little about Dentist vs Covid-19.

First, we need to know what is dental emergencies. Dental emergencies are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding, lighten up severe pain or infection, and include:1

  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Cellulitis or a diffuse soft tissue bacterial infection with intra-oral or extra-oral swelling that potentially compromise the patient’s airway
  • Trauma involving facial bones, potentially compromising the patient’s airway

Also Read Mobile Dentistry : An Enhancement in Dentistry World

The ADA (American Dental Association) recognizes that members of the public have questions about whether they should continue to visit their dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the ADA is currently recommending dentists close their offices to all but emergency care, they have provided guidelines to help patients determine when to consult with their dentist as to whether care should be rescheduled. When in doubt, please call your dentist to determine the best course of action. This is some sort of things you can do due to this situation.2

Dental care you can reschedule for another time:1,2

  • Regular visits for exams, cleanings, and x-rays
  • Regular visits for braces
  • Removal of teeth that aren’t painful
  • Treatment of cavities that aren’t painful
  • Tooth whitening
  • Aesthetic dental procedures

Dental care that you should have taken care of by a dentist at this time:1,2

  • Bleeding that doesn’t stop
  • Painful swelling in or around your mouth
  • Pain in a tooth, teeth or jaw bone
  • Gum infection with pain or swelling
  • After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
  • Broken or knocked out tooth
  • Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
  • Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
  • Biopsy of abnormal tissue

In this situation, many dentists have turned to telemedicine to counsel patients by phone or video conferencing. Unless someone in extreme pain or swollen or some condition that already mentioned above, first try to contact (by phone or other media) with your dentist, as they may be able to give you a prescription or refer you to the appropriate provider. Or if they can treat it immediately, they will prepare the clinic first to prevent infection transmitted during procedures.3,4

Dentists face one of the highest risks of contracting coronavirus, even greater than doctors, nurse or paramedics, clinical care workers, food delivery boys, janitors, pilots, flight attendants, barbers and maids. According to medical research reports, dentists are eight times more at risk of contracting COVID-19 infections. The American Dental Association has cautioned all dentists of their risk of exposure as they deal with the oral cavity, which is one of the easiest routes to infection due to the presence of saliva and other secretions.4,5

So, it would be wise to postponed your appointment to dentist if it’s not urgent and if you feel sick. If you have dental issues, try contact your dentist first then ask what is the best solution of your condition. Taking care of your daily oral health is the best to do during this moment. Stay safe and healthy. See you again.

References

  1. https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emergency_DDS.pdf?utm_source=adaorg&utm_medium=covid-resources-lp&utm_content=cv-pm-emerg-def&utm_campaign=covid-19&_ga=2.228427101.1788064760.1585965959-393050213.1585965959
  2. https://www.ada.org/~/media//CPS/Files/COVID/ADA_DentalEmerg_Patient_Flyer.pdf?utm_source=adaorg&utm_medium=covid-resources-lp&utm_content=cv-pm-emerg-def-patients&utm_campaign=covid-19
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-to-keep-your-teeth-healthy-if-your-dentist-office-is-closed#Dental-care-emergencies-only
  4. https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/coronavirus-how-dentists-at-high-risk-of-exposure-operate-in-uae-1.70770362
  5. https://www.zerodonto.com/en/2020/03/covid-19-dentistry-new-coronavirus/

 

Mobile Dentistry : An Enhancement in Dentistry World

Mobile Dentistry : An Enhancement in Dentistry World

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Mobile Dentistry – A mobile food truck is well known by all people in the world, now it’s time we talk about the Mobile Dentistry. What is it? How effective it can be?

What is Mobile Dentistry ?

Mobile dentistry means that your dental equipment can be moved from place to place, in a bus, truck, trailer, airplane, boat, ship or some such transport. Portability and mobility are two different things. A portable dental unit is one, which you can fold up and carry in your hands to another location. A mobile dental unit is one that can be moved to another location, but probably not physically carried.1  Mobile dental delivery systems (MDDSs) are receiving growing interest for reaching isolated patients, as well as in dental care for fragile and hospitalized patients, with the advantage of being able to be used from room to room or during general anesthesia (GA) in an operating room. Therefore, ensuring the care safety is crucial.2 the term portable and mobile dentistry (PMD) describes the use of portable dental equipment only, mobile dental units only, or their combination. Historically, PMD use had been limited to certain states with large rural populations and almost exclusively in the non-profit sector.3

Although mobile and portable oral health programs initially focused on children in schools and Head Start programs, many now serve adults and the elderly, especially those in nursing homes or with unstable housing, those with developmental disabilities or other special needs, those with limited transportation, and those who otherwise lack access to private dental practices.4 The Examples of Potentially Effective Mobile Clinic Sites: Nursing home, Inner city school Oral Health Projects, Headstart and Migrant Project, Rural and remote communities, etc.5

PMD (Portable and Mobile Dentistry) offers many benefits to the patients as well. Being treated on site (at work, school, or other) means minimal interruption to their day. Additionally, dental anxiety may be reduced because, rather than being in a dentist’s o_ce, care is received in an environment that may be more familiar to the patient – there may be less opportunity for “white coat fever” to occur, as patients are away from the traditional dentists’ o_ce. While we recognize that a lifelong relationship with a dentist in a traditional o_ce may be more familiar and comfortable than a PMD setting, the PMD setting may prove more comfortable for some patients.3

As with all practices, there are shortcomings. Treating residential patients requires more time and patience than treating those in an office. Travel and consultation times reduce the number of daily patients. Equipment requires movement to and from a car, and sterilization procedures are performed elsewhere. Flexibility is essential as dental treatment plans are secondary to medical requirements. The area in which a procedure is performed may be more difficult to keep clean and sterile. These are obvious problems, but in comparison to a complete lack of care, the shortcomings can be overcome.6

Also Read Dental Clinic, The Best Time to Visit in The Middle of Pandemic

Resources:

  1. https://www.worlddentalrelief.com/book/Chpt%2015%20Mobile%20Dentistry.pdf
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7084903/
  3. Gupta S., Hakim M., Patel D., Stow L.C., Shin K., Timothe P., Nalliah R.P. Reaching Vulnerable Populations through Portable and Mobile Dentistry- Current and Future Opportunities. J. 2019, 7, 75. MDPI
  4. Oral Health Workforce Research Center. An Assesment of Mobile and Portable Dentistry Programs to Improve Population Oral Health. University at Albany. 2017. US
  5. Hight A. Mobile Dental Clinics: What Works, What to Watch and What to Avoid. Sullivan-Shcein Dental
  6. https://www.dentaleconomics.com/macro-op-ed/article/16389735/challenges-and-potential-rewards-for-mobile-dentistryy