Do Not Plan to Brush Your Teeth Yet.
Many dental offices are already open, which is great news if something in your mouth has been bothering you since mid-March or if you know you need dental work. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to go about your business as usual if all you need is cleaning. Dentists are especially at risk of contracting COVID-19 from patients, so it may be best to postpone non-urgent visits for a while.
The World Health Organization recently released oral care guidelines that include a recommendation that “nonessential oral care care, which usually includes oral exams, brushing teeth, and preventive care,” should be postponed until there will be a sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates … “
To learn more about healthcare during COVID, watch the video below:
As they point out, dentists and hygienists deal directly with human body fluids, and their instruments often form aerosol droplets. The biggest risk when going to the dentist is that you might infect them, not the other way around. But at the same time, if your dentist is at risk of contracting COVID, then there is also a non-zero chance that he will pass it on to patients.
This doesn’t mean you need to skip appointments; it is still a call to judgment. Preventive care now can make you healthier in the long term. And since COVID-19 is far from being controlled in much of the United States, it is possible that dental visits will become less safe if the number of cases rises again.
However, most of us can safely skip a dentist visit or two , depending on the specifics of our oral health. If you feel comfortable putting off or canceling the next appointment on your calendar, this might be the safest option right now.
If you do decide to go, the ADA and CDC have put together a list of guidelines for providers to keep you and your patients safe. Your dentist may opt for hand-held instruments over ultrasonic ones, for example, and there are likely to be new procedures to check, so call ahead.