IS IT SAFE TO VISIT A DENTAL CLINIC FOR TREATMENT POST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN?

YES. It is safe, but, you must ensure that STRINGENT PRECAUTIONS are being followed at the dental practice that you choose.

What are these STRINGENT PRECAUTIONS?

The top most concern for anyone post the lockdown is SAFETY AND HYGIENE.

At a dental practice, while the risk of cross-infection always existed, however it was not commonly known to many and even if people were aware, it was often ignored. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, each one of us has become aware and is concerned about being exposed to the virus at whichever place we go.  Things become a little more complex at a dental practice given the nature of treatments that are provided. Dental interventions include aerosol generation, handling of sharp instruments, and close proximity of the dentist to the patients’ mouth and throat region which is the key source of transmission of most infections and not just COVID-19.  

Also Read: WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE TOOTH PAIN DURING COVID-19?

  Thus, to prevent cross contamination amongst patients and staff, dental clinics need to take extra precautions and you as a consumer must be aware of the same so that you make the right choice while choosing a dental provider,

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A DENTAL PRACTICE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT AT RISK FOR CONTRACTING ANY DISEASE?

• INITIAL PROTECTION MEASURES:  ENTRY SCREENING, HAND SANITIZATION, MASKS AND SHOE COVERS should definitely be the norm. If these are not being followed, this should be a cause for concern for you.
• TREATMENT PROTECTION MEASURES: It is important for dental practices to use PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT for their staff especially who is doing the treatment. If this is being followed, then this saves you from the risk of cross contamination. 
• EXTRA MEASURES: In addition, some leading dental practices in Delhi are providing TELE-CONSULTATIONS first to minimize the risk of exposure, encouraging NO ATTENDANTS along with patients, handling patients only on APPOINTMENT BASIS. These small steps indicate that the practice is genuinely concerned and cautious and these go a long way in minimizing the risk of exposure to their patients.
• STERILIZATION AND DISNFECTION PROTOCOLS: Now, this is something that is internal to the practice and you would not be able to easily assess this. However, if the dental practice is following the right protocols, then they would definitely inform you about it either through their website or you would be able to see the certifications from the relevant authorities on the website or in any other form. 

Some things that you must enquire about:

1. Are treatments being done in isolated chambers?
2. Are instruments kept and sterlized in sealed packets?
3. Are the instruments being sterilized as per CDC protocol?
4. What overall sterilization processes are being followed?
5. How many patients are being treated in the same chamber in a day?

• TECHNOLOGY: As a practice, some important considerations that dental practices must look into are:

1. Is there in-clinic availability of full mouth X-ray (OPG) facility?
2. Is any advanced equipment being used for extra protection and prevention ?
3. What measures are being taken to filter the water?
4. What measures are being taken to purify the air?

We have tried to cover the most important factors which should not be missed at this time while selecting the right dental practice for your dental treatment. In addition to these, individual practices might be following additional protocols and measures ranging from patient screening to treatment delivery and post treatment sterilization. Dental practices following these protocols would the right choice for any patient and no compromise should be made as these are critical for ensuring patient health and safety. Following these protocols means additional costs are being borne by the practice and this might make your dental  treatment a little more expensive as compared to earlier, but please remember, this additional cost will be much lower than the cost of risking one’s and your loved ones overall health.  Thus, to summarize, a detailed research at your end would become critical while deciding which dental practice to choose for your dental treatment.  In addition to doing an online research, it is always good to pick up the phone and speak to the practice once you have shortlisted them and directly enquire about the protocols that are being adopted. This would help you assess whether what is being showed is also being done. Dent Ally, the best dental clinic in Delhi, is one of the only dental practices in New Delhi, India following safety guidelines issued by CDC, ADA , WHO and MoHFW. To know more about the practices that are being followed, refer to this link here. https://dentally.in/coronavirus-covid-19-dental-treatment/