People should not go to non-urgent appointments for dentists until ‘unknown’ Covid-19 risk is better understood, warns World Health Organization
- There is no data on how coronavirus can spread from a dentist’s chair
- Concerned that common procedures can create small infected floating particles
- Procedures include air / water spray and ultrasonic cleaning and polishing
Patients should not go to appointments for dentists unless they are urgent until the risk factor of coronavirus is better understood, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
A WHO dentist, Benoit Varenne, said the risk posed by procedures used by dentists is too poorly understood for people to start following non-urgent appointments.
Procedures including air and water spray, ultrasonic cleaning and polishing can all send coronaviruses into the patient’s mouth, he said.
Mr. Varienne said: ‘WHO guidance advises in case of community transfer to give priority to urgent or necessary oral cases, to prevent or minimize procedures that can generate aerosol, prioritize a set of clinical interventions that are performed with an instrument and of course to delay routine non-essential oral health care. ‘
There are currently no data on how easily coronavirus could spread in a dentist’s chair and many operations were closed for only but the most urgent appointments in lockdown in the UK.
The WHO said more research is needed to understand the risk, and that patients and dentists should avoid non-urgent appointments until this is completed.
Patients should not go to dental appointments unless they are urgent until the risk factor of coronavirus is better understood, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced
Mr. Varenne added: ‘The chance that COVID-19 will be transmitted via aerosol, microparticles or air particles … today I think that is unknown, it is at least open to question. This means more research is needed. ‘
The WHO last month published general guidelines on the transmission of the coronavirus that recognized some reports of airborne but stopped short of confirming that the virus was spreading through the air.
Dental facilities must have adequate ventilation to reduce the risk of spreading viruses in closed institutions, it said on Tuesday.
“We think the most pressing issue is the availability of essential personal protective equipment, PPE, for all healthcare professionals who undertake or assist in clinical procedures,” said Mr Varenne.
Dentists in the UK have been allowed since June 8 to provide non-urgent appointments under lockdown rules.
They had been allowed to do urgent work during the entire lockdown.
But many surgeons have to make a dramatic change of normality because they welcome patients back.
Sara Hurley, the Chief Dentistry Officer (CDO) for England said in May that dentists should offer online consultations and surgery may need to be tailored depending on their schedule.
Waiting rooms may need to be lined with perspex glass, magazines and toys for children may need to be removed, and chairs will need to be set up in accordance with the two-meter rule.
The British Dental Association (BDA) welcomed the reopening plans at the time, but warned that expectations should be managed and added that infection control and social distance capacity could be reduced by a maximum of two thirds.
The dental union added that the availability of PPE may limit the rate at which dental care is restored, with different practices likely to differ.
BDA chair Mick Armstrong said: ‘A return of high street dentists will be welcome news for millions of patients who are left with few options during lockdown but important questions remain.
‘It is right to allow practitioners to decide for themselves when they are ready to open up.
“Dentists will be happy to try to make it safe as soon as possible, but we will need everyone to be patient when practicing.”
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