Is It Safe to Go to The Dentist During COVID-19 Pandemic?

About COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

On February 11, 2020, WHO officially named the disease as COVID-19 and on the same date, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) named the virus that causes this disease with the name severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV) -2). This name was chosen because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak. Although related, the two viruses are different.

The symptoms

Most people who are infected with this virus will experience respiratory problems. Older people, or those who have concomitant medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer are at risk of more serious illness.

Prevention

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to make a physical distancing and avoid contact with others and wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

Spread

The COVID-19 virus is spread mainly through splashing saliva or coming out of the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it's important that you get used to the behavior when coughing and sneezing you must covering your mouth and nose to elbows that bend when sneezing or coughing.

Pandemic Status

Wednesday, March 11, 2020, about three months after the Coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak spread to various countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally established this disease as a 'pandemic' because it occurs worldwide, with a wide area, crossing borders national borders and impacting people in large numbers.

Elective Dental Care

Dentists are advised to postpone the action without symptomatic complaints, are elective, aesthetic treatments, actions using a scaler / suction. Dentist's tools such as burs, scalers (tools for cleaning tartar) and suction have the risk of creating sparks into the air from the patient's mouth. From this spark the virus can also easily spread to others.

Patients also must understand that the elective care in question is emergency care such as:

1. Unbearable pain.

2. Swollen gums due to infection

3. Uncontrolled bleeding in the oral cavity.

4. Trauma to teeth and facial bones due to an accident.

So as mentioned above, other dental treatments should be postponed. The point is to refrain from leaving the house except in an emergency. If in an urgent situation, here are the things that need attention:

1. Find out which clinics are open by calling or checking their social media. No need to travel around to look for clinics that are open. Remember: staying at home is an attempt to break the chain of the virus spreading.

2. For dental treatments that have been scheduled well in advance of the emergency COVID-19 such as routine control, extraction, dental filling or other orthodontic controls that are not emergency, especially those who only want aesthetic treatment such as installation of braces and veneer while they are closed, are requested to delay until controlled situation. Holidays at this time have a purpose, namely to keep people at home and minimize contact with others. So cooperation is requested.

3. Be honest about what your complaints are and your health condition whether you are unwell, flu, colds or not feeling well so that the health facility you are going to can prepare for the necessary prevention.

4. Also inform if you have traveled to the Area or made contact with people who are confirmed to be COVID-19.

5. Follow the development of information from reliable sources.

Always consult your dental and oral health problems with the best dentists and dental clinics in Bali.

BIA Dental Center

Jl. Sunset Road No.86A, Seminyak, Badung, bali Indonesia 80361.

+6282139396161

Source:

1. WHO

2. CDC

3. PDGI

4. Kemenkes RI