Covid-19 or corona virus is apparently the biggest event that has occurred in the 21st-century era. This disease that has gripped the entire world in its folds is a historical event from all POVs whether you talk from the perspective of the healthcare sector, or from that of the economic field. Covid-19 has successfully affected all streams of human life, and it has turned our habits and lifestyle upside down.
The world of oral health is no exception to corona virus, and all people who are engaged in this sector are being forced to evolve as well. The dentists and their teams are at high risk during corona because dental procedures require dentists to come in close contact with the aerosols and patient’s droplets. Thus, to protect dentists and their teams from the threat of this infectious disease some specific changes are been made to the existing operating protocols. Now, if you wish to study these amends more closely, then read further!
Why are these changes essential to the dental treatment sector?
Since the onset of the corona pandemic, people’s lives have been put on hold. Humankind has been put under lockdown, and people are not allowed to leave their homes except for essential services. Oral patients are also following this norm, and they are trying to avoid undergoing any dental procedure as of now. But in the past few months, WHO has given many hints that suggest that the corona virus has come to stay. Thus, the countries around the world have started pushing the “play” button, and life has begun to move again, albeit with precautions. Now, practicing these precautions is significant in the oral healthcare sector because-
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During the dental procedures, the viral agents can mix and stay in the air in the form of aerosols if the patient sneezes or coughs. This can place the dentist and his team at the first line of exposure to the corona virus.
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The other major issue is related to the persistence of agents in the room. After the dental treatment, the aerosols generated by ultrasound or high-rotation instruments can remain in the air or on the surfaces for long hours. So, even if the dentist manages to save himself from contracting the virus during the procedure, it doesn’t mean that the threat is over.
Thus, because of these reasons precautions and changes to the existing operating protocols are necessary. Now, in our next section, let’s focus upon the said changes.
What changes have been made to the dental procedures?
To ensure the safety and protection of the dentists and their collaborators, the following changes have been made to the operating procedures-
The patients before visiting the dentist are required to fix appointments so that they do not crowd the clinic premises. Also, inside the clinic, the patients and healthcare personnel are required to practice safe distancing. At least one-meter distance is necessary, and it has to be maintained at all times between two people, except during the treatment.
While interacting with the patients, the dentists and their teams are recommended to wear protective gear at all times. Anyone who is inside the premises of the clinic is expected to wear masks, gloves, goggles, and face shields to avoid direct droplet contact.
During the treatment, the dentists are required to wear gowns or coveralls. To increase the protective function where high contamination is expected dentists are recommended to put on PPE kits. This PPE kit that has back closure, high collar, and long sleeves with tight cuffs, covered seams, has been designed for this purpose primarily. Its main function is to protect the operator from a potential positive patient as well as to safeguard the patient in case the operator turns out to be the carrier of the virus.
To prevent the virus from spreading an important measure is to keep the surfaces clean. For practicing this, there are two options- either the dentists need to ensure the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces every few hours, or they need to use surface covers to protect the surfaces from getting contaminated.
It is of utmost importance for the dentists to practice personal hygiene during corona. The dentists and their teams are required to wash or sanitize their hands every 20 minutes. They must wash their forearms and hands both before and after the treatment. Plus, the dentists are also required to make sure that they cover their heads, and remove the jewels before starting the treatment.
All the instruments that are being used in the oral treatments are required to be sterilized in an autoclave. If there is any tool that cannot be autoclaved, then it must be disinfected. After the sterilization, the instruments needed to be kept safely to avoid recontamination for 60 days at most.
Thus, these are some changes that are being employed in the oral healthcare sector to ensure the safety of both the dentists and patients. You can found us if you search for best dentist in Ghaziabad, we are located in F28, Commercial Sector 9, New Vijay Nagar, Police Chowki Ghaziabad