There is no greater healthcare field tied so directly to infectious disease like Covid-19 than dentistry. With the close proximity to patients and increased risk of aerosols in the operatory, the dental profession is under enormous scrutiny to ensure safety for both employees and patients.
Dental offices across the world are altering and adapting their offices to follow guidelines from the CDC to provide a comfortable, yet safe environment for patients. Changes that are common include social distancing, increased personal protective equipment, infection control like medical grade filters, and advanced suction devices.
While there is the natural thought that dental offices can be a breeding ground for infectious diseases, the truth is the dental profession has already taken necessary precautions prior to the pandemic. In addition to universal precautions, offices now have Covid-19 screenings, contactless temperature checks, and more sanitation stations. There is little to no data that supports dental offices have any increased risk of transmission than any other type of office or residence.
In addition to office changes, we must ask ourselves how Covid-19 will affect the overall dental health of patients? Research is still being performed on how the virus directly affects the oral cavity, but as of now, studies show patients with severe cases have poorer oral hygiene than patients with milder cases.
It is expected that the oral health for many is going to be compromised and we will see more cases of tooth decay and gum disease in the following months. This can be correlated to patients avoiding routine dental visits because of fear of contracting Covid-10. More emergency visits are also expected because patients will delay treatment until there is pain or a problem, resulting in an increase in dental infections and tooth extractions.
In the early stages of the pandemic, dentists limited treatment that caused aerosols like using prophy handpieces and high speed handpieces. Treatment was limited to extractions and temporary fillings until offices were able to acquire equipment to safely see patients. This delay in treatment likely caused some patients to have more severe cases of periodontal disease due to a lack of maintenance and more tooth decay due to delaying simple or elective treatment.
It is also known that because Covid-19 is linked to inflammation, it could affect gum disease and oral tissues. Clinical manifestations observed in Covid-19 patients are oral candidiasis, vesicular bleeding, and ulcers. It is also well known that the virus affects taste and smell buds that is being further studied on how it will affect the oral cavity long-term.
What we do know is that the dental field is constantly changing and is prepared to make changes as the pandemic evolves. With more education and preparation, dentists are trained to treat patients safely and effectively to provide high quality of care.
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