Many dentist offices are now open, which is great news if something in your mouth has bugged you since mid-March as if you know you need dental work. But that does not mean it is time for business as usual as all you need is a cleaning. Dentists are particularly at risk of ingesting COVID-19 from patients, and so it may be best to schedule non-urgent visits for a while longer.
The World Health Organization recently published guidance on oral care, which includes a recommendation that “non-essential oral health care – which usually includes oral health check-ups, dental check-ups and preventive care – be postponed until there has been a sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates …”
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As they point out, dentists and hygienists treat people’s body fluids directly, and their tools often generate aerosol drops. The biggest risk when going to the dentist is that yes can infect their, instead of vice versa. But that said, if your dentist is at risk for catching COVID, then the chances are also non-zero that they may pass it on to patients.
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This does not mean that you should skip appointments; that’s still a judgment call. Preventive care can now make you healthier in the long run. And with COVID-19 far out of control in many parts of the US, it’s very likely that dentist appointments will be less safe as cases increase again.
That said, most of us can safely skip an appointment as a dentist, depending on the specifications of our oral health. If you feel comfortable delaying or advancing the next appointment on your calendar, this may be the safest option right now.
If you decide to go, the ADA and CDC have a ready list of recommendations for providers to keep themselves and their patients safe. For example, your dentist may choose hand tools instead of ultrasound, for example, and there are likely to be new procedures for check-in – so call ahead.
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