Check your teeth during covid

Several types of health services have been hampered since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the affected is dental examination. It is not easy to determine the right time to check your teeth because this procedure increases the risk of transmitting the coronavirus to both the dentist and the patient.

However, there are certain conditions that allow patients to undergo dental examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dentists may also examine patients by applying established safety rules. If you're planning on going to the dentist, here are a few things to consider.

Why should you postpone a visit to the dentist?

COVID-19 is transmitted through droplet, which is a splash of liquid containing a virus that is released when the patient talks, coughs, or sneezes. A person can catch COVID-19 if they inhale it droplet during close contact with an infected person.

You can also catch COVID-19 if you come in direct contact with saliva, fluids, or mucus in the patient's mouth and throat. This fluid is also often in contact with the doctor's hand and the equipment used during dental examinations.

In addition, tools for dental examinations can also be spouted droplet into the air. If the size is smooth enough, droplet can stay in the air for several hours. Droplet can then be inhaled or attached to the surface of the item.

Checking your teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic is more risky because not many examination rooms are equipped with sufficient protection against COVID-19.

Many doctors do not have isolation rooms to prevent infection, single-patient examination rooms, or adequate masks.

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Even if the doctor has sterilized the examination equipment, the patient can still be infected if he touches chairs, doors, or other non-medical devices that are contaminated with the virus. This is why you are advised to postpone going to the dentist if you don't have an emergency.

Postponing dental examinations is also useful so that doctors can focus more on helping health workers in the hospital. Doctors can also save on the limited stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and eye protection.

When should you see a dentist?

There are certain conditions that determine whether or not you can check your teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your condition is not classified as an emergency, the procedure is elective. You are advised to postpone your visit until a safer time.

Launching the American Dental Association page, examples of elective procedures for non-emergency conditions include:

• Routine dental examinations, cleaning and X-rays
• Tooth hole filling that doesn't hurt
• Tooth extraction that doesn't hurt
• Dental cosmetic repairs such as bonding or veneer
• Braces check
• Teeth whitening

There are also emergencies that require you to see a dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, dental problems that are classified as emergency include:

• Severe pain in the teeth, gums, or jawbone
• Pain and swelling in the gums, neck, or face
• Bleeding that doesn't stop
• Tissue that must be sampled (biopsy)
• Broken teeth, especially those that cause pain or tissue damage
• Postoperative care that cannot be done independently
• Dental care in patients with radiation therapy or other cancer treatments
• Pain due to braces so it must be readjusted
• Crown broken or missing teeth
• Dentures are not working properly
• Trauma that affects breathing

Contact your dentist if these conditions occur. If the dentist is not available, you can go to the hospital for help. Don't forget to wash your hands, keep your distance, and wear a mask when you need to go to the hospital.

Safety procedures during dental examinations

In order to stop the spread of the disease, the Indonesian Dental Association issued a circular on guidelines for dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following instructions must be followed by the dentist during the examination:

1. Screen all patients according to the procedures in this circular.
2. Immediately refer patients who are suspected of being infected with COVID-19.
3. Postponing the action without symptomatic complaints, being elective, aesthetic treatment, and the act of using a bur /scaler/suction.
4. Use complete, disposable personal protective equipment for each patient.
5. Perform proper hand washing procedures.
6. Patients are asked to gargle with 0.5-1% hydrogen peroxide for 60 seconds or 1% povidone iodine for 15-60 seconds before treatment and when needed.
7. Cleaning of dental tools with 5% sodium hypochlorite in a ratio of 1: 100 for 1 minute. All dental objects and tools can be cleaned using 70% ethanol before the sterilization process with autoclave.
8. Cleaning of work environments, patient waiting areas, door handles, tables, chairs and dental unit with a disinfectant. Floors can be cleaned using 2% benzalkonium chloride.
9. Change clothes used during practice before returning home.

Checking your teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic is not recommended if your condition is not classified as an emergency. You can keep your teeth healthy by brushing, rinsing, and avoiding habits that damage your teeth.

This examination procedure is only recommended for patients with conditions that cannot be delayed. The risk of contracting COVID-19 can be reduced by maintaining personal hygiene, equipment and inspection rooms through safety guidelines.