The World Health Organization said Tuesday that routine, non-essential tooth work should be delayed until COVID-19 transmission rates drop sufficiently, caution against procedures that produce aerosol sprays from patients’ mouths.
The WHO said that check-ups, dental cleaning and preventive care could be postponed because it releases guidance to dentists on how to minimize the risk of transmission during the coronavirus pandemic.
The United Nations Health Agency now said that when dental services began to recover in many countries, various procedures could be done in a way that minimized aerosol, like micro-droplets hanging in the air.
WHO recommends that routine non-essential oral health care – which usually includes oral health checks, dental cleaning and preventive care – be postponed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates from community to case transmission cluster, “the guide says.
“The same applies to aesthetic dental treatments. However, there must be urgent or necessary interventions for oral health care that are essential for maintaining a person’s oral functioning, managing severe pain or ensuring liveability.”
The WHO said that if possible, remote patients should be screened before their appointments are made.
The interim guidance, dated 3 August, was issued by the WHO on Tuesday.
Close to
The WHO said that dentists were at high risk of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“Oral health care teams work for long periods close to patients’ faces,” the organization said.
“Their procedures include face-to-face communication and frequent exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids and the handling of sharp instruments. Hence, they are at high risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 or passing the infection on to patients.”
Aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) include tooth cleaning with ultrasonic scaling and polishing, working with high pieces such as low speed, extraction of surgical teeth and placement of implants.
The guidance outlined ways in which broken teeth and orthodontic appliances, and extensive dental caries can be treated while minimizing or preventing AGPs.
WHO dental chief Benoit Varenne told reporters that oral disease was a negligible health burden in many countries, affecting people throughout their lives.
“At the global level, recent estimates show that 3.5 billion are affected by oral disease,” he said.
“Untreated dental caries in permanent teeth is the most common health condition in humans.”
He said in a survey 75 per cent of WHO member states said that dozens of services were completely or partially disrupted during the pandemic.
Varenne also worried about the availability of personal protective equipment for dentists working during the pandemic.
© Agence France-Presse
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