The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an unprecedented crisis in the world and continues to have devastating economic, health, and social consequences even after it has ended. Millions of people globally were afflicted by this disease, profoundly affecting the delivery of health services. With people quarantined in their homes and other lockdown restrictions, dental services across much of the world had been essentially closed since late March 2020.
Needless to say, a serious risk of transmission of infection associated with aerosol-generated procedures, such as the use of air rotors had been a pressing concern for all dental practitioners. Even as dental services slowly reopened there is a marked fall in the number of patients, as people are scared to step into clinics risking exposure. Various recommendations and guidance have been issued by the CDC, ADA and other governing bodies to ensure the safe and hygienic delivery of dental treatment.
For the protection of clinicians from the hazards of aerosols generated during procedures N95 masks, face shields, PPEs, and other protective garments were stringently used during treatment procedures. It has also been recommended to use powerful extraoral high-volume suction devices to reduce the spread of aerosols in the clinic. Patients are being provided various protective overgarments like head caps, body drapes, and shoe covers along with strict temperature screening and hand hygiene measures in place. Since patients themselves are very aware of the threats, they aren’t willing to take risks.
Practices need to reiterate the strict implementation of CDC and OSHA guidelines for proper sanitization and sterilization. Many practices have invested huge amounts in sanitization protocols and installed HEPA air filters, UV lamps, foggers machines and whatnot. This may be an enormous financial investment in the face of decreased patient footfall, but it will be beneficial in the long run and can be seen as an opportunity for improved dental delivery.
Even though the pandemic may seem as a setback, all changes may not always be negative. The lockdown has created a space where teleconsultation services saw a sudden boom. Equipped with their smartphones and high-speed internet services, people are getting more comfortable with the convenience and accessibility of telehealth services. This can enable a system of triage for acute dental problems before an in-person visit and also make dental services available to patients who face barriers to conventional dental care, including patients in rural areas, nursing homes or other residential facilities, and those with mobility or transportation limitations.
There has also been a significant change in treatment protocols with a shift towards preventive and conservative strategies. Minimally invasive techniques such as atraumatic restorative treatment using Fluorides, SDF, GIC, etc. have gained preference as they curb the risk of cross-infection from aerosols.
Despite having a devastating impact on the dental industry, we can still remain optimistic because dental care is very different from other businesses. A lockdown doesn’t mean the dental decay can get reversed or the impacted molar heals by itself. That painful tooth will always need treatment and the molar will require extraction sooner or later. The deferred revenue is building up a backlog and this will definitely help the dental industry to get back on its feet sooner than others.
It is important for dental healthcare personnel to keep themselves updated with any new information regarding this disease and adapt to the change. This pandemic presents an opportunity for us to rethink the future of dentistry and address our system-level failures. Just like any other crisis in history, we will soon overcome this to emerge stronger than before.
