COVID 19, AS CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY IN DENTAL PRACTICE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v10i02.307Abstract
A novel coronavirus announced as the etiologic pathogen of COVID 19, on 8th Jan 2020. WHO also declared the outbreak of COVID 19 as public Health Emergency on 30th Jan 2020. It is a highly contagious disease, and the main route of transmission of the virus is air born respiratory droplets through close personal contact. In routine dental procedures, a large number of droplets and aerosols could are generated and considered as the most common cause of spread. Due to the fact, the dental practice has been placed at the top of the high-risk profession in COVID pandemic. It has challenged the dental professionals at large. It has created not only health concerns but financial loss, compromise in the dental health delivery system, and wastage of human resources and dental auxiliaries.
Effective Infection Control Protocols like Hand washing is considered the most beneficial measure for reducing the risk of transmitting microorganism. Thorough disinfection of all surfaces within the dental operatory and the use of personal protective equipment, including N 95 masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles and face shields, recommended to protect skin and mucosa from contaminated instruments, blood, and other secretions. No one can predict the future of pandemic, but there is a lot of speculation about clinical dental practice in the future if we have to live with COVID 19.
In the past, the casual approach of general dental practitioners especially in rural and small towns, where the involvement of unauthorized people in dental practice and lack of resources like high tech autoclave and electricity has led to the common perception of the spread of infection being related to the dental procedures. Now with the COVID pandemic, the dental practitioners at large have realized the importance of protective measures and adherence to strict protocols. Hopefully, the future dentistry will be different, a little more expensive but the patient safety will be prioritized by all means.
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Copyright (c) 2020 Associate. Prof. Dr. Sultan Zeb Khan
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