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In a guidance dated August 3, 2020, the World Health Organization issued recommendations for the provision of essential oral health services in the context of COVID-19. Of note, the guidance recommends the delaying of nonessential dental care where COVID-19 is in an area of community spread.
The guidance states as follows: "WHO advises that routine non-essential oral health care—which usually includes oral health check-ups, dental cleanings and preventive care—be delayed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates from community transmission to cluster cases or according to official recommendations at national, sub-national or local level. The same applies to aesthetic dental treatments. However, urgent or emergency oral health care interventions that are vital for preserving a person's oral functioning, managing severe pain or securing quality of life should be provided."
The WHO recommendations began to receive increased attention by the US dental community today, as stories by Reuters, The Hill, and Voice of America placed a spotlight on the WHO's recommendation to delay nonessential care. The guidance was also amplified by a WHO tweet earlier this morning.
The Reuters report came after a news briefing in which Benoit Varenne, a WHO dental officer, said dental providers should "avoid or minimize procedures that may generate aerosol, prioritize a set of clinical interventions that are performed using an instrument, and of course to delay routine nonessential oral health care.”
Varenne also noted that more research was needed to ascertain the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission in dental settings.
Other WHO recommendations included the following:
- Patients should be given oral health advice through remote consults or social media on how to maintain good oral hygiene, as prevention and self-care are high priorities.
- Oral health-care workers are in close proximity to patients’ faces for long periods of time, and there is frequent exposure to saliva, blood, and bodily fluids and handling of sharp instruments. As such, dental providers "are at high risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 or passing the infection to patients."
- Adequate ventilation is needed in dental settings. Facilities should "[a]void the use of split air conditioning or other types of recirculation devices and consider installation of filtration systems."
Additional information may be found below:
Editor's note: This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
Zachary Kulsrud is the editorial director for Endeavor Business Media's dental group, publishers of Dental Economics, DentistryIQ, Perio-Implant Advisory, and RDH magazine.
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August 12, 2020 at 10:16AM
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World Health Organization advises delaying of nonessential dental care in areas of COVID-19 community transmission - DentistryIQ
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