WHO urges public avoid routine dental

[donheff]

I mentioned earlier that my niece is a local dentist. Her is part of her recent patient email that addresses the WHO recommendations:

“... Last week the World Health Organization put out a statement that people should be delaying their routine dental appointments until the Covid pandemic subsides. Let's talk about WHO though- it is named the World Health Organization because it's talking about Global, not local or regional. The following day, the American Dental Association respectfully disagreed with them.

*To date, there have been zero cases linked to dental offices. We in the dental profession have been using higher standards of protection than most medical facilities for decades, not just since this pandemic started. And when we discuss the risk factor, the majority of dental clinics in the world, even with new updates to care, have yet to reach the standard that we've had in the US Pre-Covid.”

 

[Boho]

I'd like an at home blood test to check for spreading of a possible gum infection. I'm not telling anyone not to go to the dentist when there's sign of an infection, but I guess there's no sign sometimes, and if you miss routine appointments, maybe a blood test could indicate that it's time to go to the dentist or doctor.

Last I checked, a few years ago, the companies that processed do it yourself blood tests didn't do it in my state. I think there was a law against it. I'll recheck eventually.

EDIT: now I'm not sure it was an at home blood test I was looking it. Maybe you had to go to their location. But you got to choose what test to take and paid out of pocket with no insurance. That's the part I wanted.

 

[iloveyoga]

I went today for my cleaning and I was happy with the precautions and procedures in place.

 

[gerntz]

I mentioned earlier that my niece is a local dentist. Her is part of her recent patient email that addresses the WHO recommendations:

“... Last week the World Health Organization put out a statement that people should be delaying their routine dental appointments until the Covid pandemic subsides. Let's talk about WHO though- it is named the World Health Organization because it's talking about Global, not local or regional. The following day, the American Dental Association respectfully disagreed with them.

*To date, there have been zero cases linked to dental offices. We in the dental profession have been using higher standards of protection than most medical facilities for decades, not just since this pandemic started. And when we discuss the risk factor, the majority of dental clinics in the world, even with new updates to care, have yet to reach the standard that we've had in the US Pre-Covid.”

Thanks. You sorta put the damper on this thread with such positive news.

WHO? Zero cred with their handling of virus.

Had my routine exam a few weeks back. I knew they'd be all over this with precautions & didn't disappoint.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Me and my daughter went for our cleanings last week. No cavities.

 

[Poopycat]

I’m already a year overdue. I don’t want to wait much longer. The cleaning will be torture when they scrape the teeth. I’m new to the area so I’ll have to find a new dentist. Need to find a new doc too.

 

[Boho]

There's antiplaque and antitartar mouthwash. Between that and brushing and flossing it doesn't seem like the typical cleaning interval would apply. I wait 30-60 minutes (when I'm being good) after brushing before the mouthwash so the fluoride soaks in. And I brush all surfaces of my teeth.

 

[donheff]

I went this morning for my first Cleaning of the year. I felt safe. The technician wore an N95 and a shield. The office has HEPA filters. WHO would appreciate.

 

[kimcdougc]

I went to my cleaning in July. Took all the precautions others have been describing. I have an artificial heart valve and am more likely than others have it affect my heart if I get an infection of some sort. I was pleased with all the precautions they took.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Well, yeah, except....without the exam and radiographs included in the appointment, you won't know you have a problem until it is an emergency problem, i.e. pain, swelling, infection....nice things to avoid by early detection.

Well, our college student cancelled their checkup, because they've never had a cavity or other problem. I've had quite a few, so I'm more on the fence about cancelling my checkup, because I have had abscesses, and I don't wish to repeat that experience. Our case rate is coming down, so that is encouraging.

 

[24601NoMore]

I'd feel better if they could open the windows. Like most office buildings, they can't open the windows at my dentist office.

To me, the biggest risk is a previous patient the hour before has it and fills the room with virus aerosols.

I have the same fear, so for that reason am waiting until my Dentist can get me in as the FIRST patient of the day..

Unfortunately, I "have" to go as I've had tooth pain in the upper right that I'm pretty sure is a cavity. Ignore that for long enough and it could turn into something that needs a root canal and crown, which is a heck of a lot more exposure risk than going in one time to get a cavity fixed..

 

[24601NoMore]

Aerosols traveling through ventilation system is my concern.

Same. You never know if there's an infectious person in an adjacent or nearby room. Even though I'm going first thing on a Monday morning, sitting in the chair for any amount of time without a mask (such as when the Dentist needs to do her work) is absolutely terrifying for that reason.

 

[24601NoMore]

The following day, the American Dental Association respectfully disagreed with them.

*To date, there have been zero cases linked to dental offices. We in the dental profession have been using higher standards of protection than most medical facilities for decades, not just since this pandemic started. And when we discuss the risk factor, the majority of dental clinics in the world, even with new updates to care, have yet to reach the standard that we've had in the US Pre-Covid.”

I'd love to know how they can prove that. In most cases of COVID, the person and their Doctor has NO FLIPPIN CLUE where they caught it.

In reality, the US does DIDDLY with "contact tracing" - and everyone knows it. So, anyone that says "there have been zero cases associated with X" is full of total hooey in my opinion. All that truly says is "we haven't been able to PROVE that a case has happened because of X"..and lack of proof is not the question being asked.

 

[garyt]

https://www.kron4.com/health/coronavirus/who-urges-public-to-avoid-dental-cleanings-during-pandemic/

"According to WHO, all dental cleanings, oral health checkups, and other preventative care should be delayed until coronavirus numbers in communities ease because dentists work in close proximity with patients for prolonged periods of time."

I was planning to go end of Sept - first patient of the day on a Monday - am I nuts. I really don't think it is a good idea to ignore my teeth. . .

I feel like we trying so hard to avoid covid we neglect everything else!

I'm going sometime before the end of the year. Already cancelled one cleaning, not going to cancel two.

 

[garyt]

Same. You never know if there's an infectious person in an adjacent or nearby room. Even though I'm going first thing on a Monday morning, sitting in the chair for any amount of time without a mask (such as when the Dentist needs to do her work) is absolutely terrifying for that reason.

I know some dental offices are advertising that they have installed Hepa filters. That's one of the reasons they're charging a "covid fee"

 

[Sojourner]

I'd love to know how they can prove that. In most cases of COVID, the person and their Doctor has NO FLIPPIN CLUE where they caught it.

In reality, the US does DIDDLY with "contact tracing" - and everyone knows it. So, anyone that says "there have been zero cases associated with X" is full of total hooey in my opinion. All that truly says is "we haven't been able to PROVE that a case has happened because of X"..and lack of proof is not the question being asked.

In the U.S., this is generally true, but I think other countries are doing much better with contact tracing. First world nations like South Korea and Germany, for example. And I have to believe that if dentist office visits were a significant danger for COVID transmission, it would be picked up by the contact tracing systems in those countries. That would be my (hopeful, perhaps naive) expectation.

 

[foxfirev5]

I kept my appointment in June, DW this month, and even my 90 yo Mom is keeping her appointment for next month. At 90 she has all, yes every one, of her teeth and medical testing numbers many 30 year olds would desire. Beware of making excuses when the risk is minimal. On the other hand I will not go to a barber or eat in a restaurant. Pick your spots.

 

[gerntz]

Aerosols traveling through ventilation system is my concern.

Ventilation systems greatly dilute the concentration of anything plus the data I read says overwhelming majority of cases are the result of sustained close contact. Net, a quite low concern of mine.

 

[Golden sunsets]

I need regular cleanings (3-4/year) and missed my last two. I'm going next week because I know the problems that can arise from bad plaque/calculus like I have. My dentist is my niece and I know what precautions she has in place.

Ditto. DH is supposed to have cleanings quarterly due to a medical condition. The last time he had a cleaning was in January, so he missed April and July. I had mine in January and should have gone again in July. As of today we are both scheduled for September. We live in a low risk state so we are weighing going to those apples. We'll see.

 

[Retire2013]

I am going to postpone my routine dental cleaning until case counts are lower. My State is not doing well with Covid 19.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Well, our college student cancelled their checkup, because they've never had a cavity or other problem. I've had quite a few, so I'm more on the fence about cancelling my checkup, because I have had abscesses, and I don't wish to repeat that experience. Our case rate is coming down, so that is encouraging.

So, given that I don't have any current issues BUT I am prone to cavities and other dental problems, what do you all think about whether I should keep my appointment next week for a routine cleaning and checkup or not? This is what my dentist has on their website, which has me feeling somewhat better about keeping it:

Due to the pandemic, the following safety protocols have been implemented in order to provide a safe environment and to keep contact at a minimum. Uncompromising safety for our patients and staff is of utmost importance during these times. There is currently limited appointment availability due to social distancing recommendations and space limitations specific to our office. For those patients who had appointments during the shutdown, please contact our office if you wish to reschedule. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience during these unprecedented times.
​

• Advanced registration: please use our online registration form on our website
• Pre-appointment Health Questionaire: We will email or text you to confirm that you have no COVID-19 symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, etc. Any patients arriving with any COVID-19 symptoms (according to current CDC guidelines) will be dismissed.
• Mask Requirements: All patients are required to wear a mask/face covering when entering the office. Please only take off your mask/face cover when in the dental chair.
• Hand Sanitizer: Please use hand sanitizer upon entering and before leaving the office.
• Temperature checks: All patients will have their temperature taken upon arrival. Any patients with an elevated temperature will be dismissed.
• Companions: In general, only patients with appointments (and one guardian as needed) are permitted in the office.
• Pre-procedural Rinse: Prior to treatment, we will ask patients to rinse with hydrogen peroxide as recommended by the American Dental Association.
• Daily health assessment of team members with temperature checks are performed at the beginning of the day prior to seeing patients.
• Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all clinical team members during procedures.
• Continuous OSHA and Infection Control training and close monitoring for up to date compliance.
• Continuous and thorough disinfection of clinical and waiting areas after each patient.
• Multiple air purifiers with HEPA filters and Extraoral Suction Units installed throughout the office

 

[harllee]

I have been to the dentist 3 times this summer (tooth abscess and root canal--ugh!) I felt safe. I have a routine cleaning in September and plan to keep it. My teeth are telling me they need to be cleaned!

On everything I do these day I do a risk/reward analysis--is the activity important enough to me to take the Covid risk? Going to the dentist meets the requirements--I think the risk is low (The dentist takes all precautions and I have not heard of any dentist in my area having to shut down because of a Covid outbreak) but it is very important to me to keep my teeth healthy. On the other hand things like eating inside a restaurant does not meet the requirement--I think the risk of eating inside a restaurant is high ( many restaurants in my area have had to shut down because of Covid outbreaks--I hear of new ones almost every day) and the reward is not that high--I can get good food when I cook at home or through take out.

 

[Gumby]

I went in for my dental cleaning and exam today. I originally had put off my July appointment to November, but I have since concluded that the infection rate, while currently admirably low in Connecticut, is almost certain to increase once schools start again in September. So I called today and, lucky for me, they had a cancellation and I got right in. I was impressed with the precautions they were taking. They have gone back to the manual scrapers and were not using the super water-pik device they've had for the last several years, because it generates too much mist. She was also very careful with a low pressure rinse technique that did not generate the normal splash.

I also thought "in for a penny, in for a pound" so I stopped by CVS and got my flu shot and the first shingles shot. I'm also going to get my annual eye exam this week.

 

[NW-Bound]

I had been avoiding going to my dentist for the semi-annual cleaning, despite his mailed reminding note. When his receptionist called two weeks ago, my wife answered the phone to say that we postponed the visit due to fear of the Covid.

Then, my crown fell off, and I had to come in for it to be glued back. And I thought I might as well get that overdue cleaning. That was on last Friday.

They did not take any special precaution that I could see. Of course the dentist and his assistant had always had a mask and face shield, and nothing changed there. The receptionist now wore a face mask, and so did I as I walked in. The pen she gave me to fill out a form to claim I had no Covid symptoms was the same pen every patient used.

I did make sure I sanitized my hands really well with the bottle of sanitizer they had on the counter, before I left the dental office. I opened the front door with my shoulder to keep my hands uncontaminated.

Pray for me. I still have 10 more days left in the 2-week incubation period.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

My appointment felt pretty safe, so I thought I'd report back on how it went. They had two seats in the waiting room, although I called from the parking lot to see whether they were ready for me, which led to the only minor problem, IMO, they told me to come up and wait, since they wanted me to do a questionnaire and temperature check. The temperature check was only a second, and it turns out the questionnaire was the short one I filled out the day before, basically saying I had no symptoms.

But the waiting room had two chairs, six feet apart, and I had to ring a bell to be let in, which I assume was to limit the number of people, to make sure everyone entering had a mask on, and that their temperature was checked right away, and the person doing the temperature check gave me two big squirts of hand sanitizer, too. The staff behind the desk all had masks on, and there was plexiglass up over the counters. Two patients walked out while I was there, but they didn't stop at the desk, so I wasn't within six feet of them, or maybe just barely for 10 seconds or so. I only sat for a few minutes (next to an air purifier, although I have no idea if it had a HEPA filter) before someone else came in and took the other seat, but that was pretty much when the hygienist came out to get me. She had on a gown, face shield, and an (unvented) N95 mask. I kept my own mask on until after I sat down in the chair and she gave me a rinse specifically to help cut down on transmission, although I forget what she said was in it. Tasted like mouthwash to me.

Anyway, the check and cleaning felt pretty safe, and the dentist came in wearing the same gear at the end.

When we were done, we decided to make another 6-month checkup appointment, which the hygienist did from the computer by the chair, and put an appointment card in the little bag with the samples, and I walked straight out, without the usual stop at the desk in the waiting room.