If you are worried about the risk of corona infection at the dentist who treats you without a mask?

Dec 18, 2024Ehotyshamull Joy

As the unprecedented "corona crisis" swept across the country, many people are trembling with fear of infection.

As the transmission of the coronavirus is known to be through droplets, many people are concerned about dental care, especially those that deal with oral health.

"I'm worried about COVID, can I go to the dentist?"

If it's a dentist with a confirmed case, it can be more dangerous than any other place. If the virus, which is inevitably floating around in the form of aerosols during the treatment process, enters through the mucous membranes of other patients, the risk of infection increases.

# Korean Dental Association, "Practice is based on guidelines and does not prohibit visits to the dentist"

"Can I go to the dentist? Can't you go?"There is no official comment from the KDA on the matter. The association said that medical institutions do not prohibit hospital visits because they are treating patients in accordance with guidelines, adding, "It seems appropriate to postpone or seek treatment based on the judgment of the medical staff in charge who knows the patient's dental condition best."I replied.

The Korean Dental Association has issued guidelines for medical staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection and recommends that all medical institutions be different. Like other medical institutions, we thoroughly check the travel history of all in-hospital patients through COVID-19-related questionnaires, overseas travel history inquiries, and drug safety use service inquiries. As a result, dental clinics are restricting or postponing consultations depending on the patient's suspected corona symptoms. In addition, for dental staff who may experience aerosols, it is recommended to wear masks, goggles, and disposable gloves of KF94 or higher.

# In the case of these patients, it's best not to procrastinate

There are some medical appointments that should not be postponed because of the fear of the coronavirus.

In the case of patients who have developed toothache, regular orthodontic check-ups, missing prostheses, nerve treatments, or patients with teeth in the process of treatment, delaying treatment without timely treatment can lead to a deterioration in their oral health. In this case, it is recommended to practice good personal hygiene, such as wearing a mask and disinfecting your hands, before completing the treatment.

Director A, a dentist in Gangnam, said, "We get a lot of inquiries about whether we can postpone our appointments. Hospitals are thoroughly disinfected and masks and face shields are worn, but if patients are uneasy, they will postpone their visits. However, in the case of treatments that should not be missed, such as correction or caries treatment, it is recommended that patients who have no history of international travel or symptoms receive treatment."He added, "Since dentists are not medical institutions that people go to because they are sick, patients with abnormal symptoms such as fever, cough, and body aches rarely come to the dentist. Don't worry too much, the chair where the patient was lying is immediately disinfected with alcohol and ventilated every hour."He said.

However, since the situation is in the current situation, unless it is a very urgent treatment such as scaling, it would be better to hold off for a while until the situation improves for the sake of each other.

# It is important to choose a dental clinic that thoroughly disinfects and controls infection.

Disinfection and infection control are of utmost importance to prevent the spread of coronavirus. As studies have shown that less than 1% of air remains after more than 30 minutes of air circulation after 12 air cycles per hour, the risk of pathogens can be greatly reduced if proper disinfection and ventilation are implemented.

I need to check if the dentist I work at thoroughly disinfects and sterilizes the chairs and treatment instruments after every patient visits. It's also a good idea to check how often ventilation is being done to remove aerosols that occur during dental treatment.

As medical institutions receive an unspecified number of patients, they must thoroughly disinfect and disinfect, maintain proper ventilation in the facilities of medical institutions, and wear personal protective equipment such as masks and goggles for all patients according to the guidelines. It is important for patients visiting hospitals to participate in preventing the spread of infectious diseases by emphasizing the observance of basic infectious disease prevention rules, practicing good personal hygiene such as washing hands and cough etiquette, and refraining from going out if they have even the slightest fever or respiratory symptoms.