The current coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone with dental patients being no exception. For some months now, your family dentist has been unable to help you and you might have been managing with over-the-counter medications. How do you cope when your situation has gone beyond the scope of          such measures demands a visit to the dentist?
Coimbatore: Now that the lockdown has been relaxed, some dentists have opened their practices and are seeing patients in small numbers. At this point in time, it is important to be mindful of a few facts.
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1. Dentists and their staff are among the highest risk professionals. The simple reason is aerosol. When the dentist uses his drill, you must realise that it runs on compressed air and this sprays saliva-contaminated aerosol over a considerable area around the treatment zone. This can cause spread of the virus and more importantly, puts the next patient in the chair at great risk, not to mention the dental personnel
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2. Appropriate PPEs and protocols are extremely hard to implement and the best measures available to dentists in our country are woefully inadequate.
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3. Minor procedures like extractions, which do not generate aerosol are safe provided adequate safety protocols are followed such as pre-procedure rinses, PPEs, room defogging after every patient, surface decontamination, etc
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Under these difficult circumstances, it is important for patients to understand the risks posed by simple dental procedures such as cleaning and filling and cooperate with the dentist to remain safe.
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We must remain optimistic in the knowledge that this too shall pass. We will soon return to life as it was before and your dentists will be able to care for you again as they always have.
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1. Dentists and their staff are among the highest risk professionals. The simple reason is aerosol. When the dentist uses his drill, you must realise that it runs on compressed air and this sprays saliva-contaminated aerosol over a considerable area around the treatment zone. This can cause spread of the virus and more importantly, puts the next patient in the chair at great risk, not to mention the dental personnel
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2. Appropriate PPEs and protocols are extremely hard to implement and the best measures available to dentists in our country are woefully inadequate.
Â
3. Minor procedures like extractions, which do not generate aerosol are safe provided adequate safety protocols are followed such as pre-procedure rinses, PPEs, room defogging after every patient, surface decontamination, etc
Â
Under these difficult circumstances, it is important for patients to understand the risks posed by simple dental procedures such as cleaning and filling and cooperate with the dentist to remain safe.
Â
We must remain optimistic in the knowledge that this too shall pass. We will soon return to life as it was before and your dentists will be able to care for you again as they always have.