the day after
Current COVID19 Dental Situation KADA Germany [ Version française ] The Bundeszahnärztekammer the professional representation of all dentists in Germany , the dental teams are not the most vulnerable group, and certainly not the "hotspots" or "super spreaders", as is often claimed. The information now available from Wuhan (China) states that - although the largest dental treatment facility there treated 120,000 patients under normal conditions (aerosol, simple mouth guard) for two months (December 2019 and January 2020) without knowing the problem - "only." “Infected 9 out of 1,098 team members with the Corona virus (3 at home, 6 may be at work). In contrast, there are thousands who have become infected in the general medical field, throat, nose & ear medicine and ophthalmology were particularly affected. The Chinese colleagues attribute the extremely low infection rate in the dental field to the consistent implementation of classic protective measures. Against this background, the dental teams are not the most vulnerable group, and certainly not "hotspots" or "superspreaders", as is often claimed. |
|
The dental team in Germany has always been subject to strict hygiene regulations, which contribute to a correspondingly high level of protection in the practices, regardless of the current situation.
This is because these hygiene regulations assume that potentially infectious patients (viruses and bacteria, such as measles or HIV) regularly come to the dentist's office for treatment.
These guidelines affect every practice, every dentist, every employee equally. In addition, the following should be observed for the health protection of patients and the employees in the surgeries in order to prevent infection / transmission with SARS-CoV-2:
The BZÄK also recommends to effectively prevent the formation of aerosols in dental practice. The focus is on effective suction technology.
The following should also be taken into account:
a) Avoid the use of ultrasonic handpieces, piezoelectric operated ultrasonic and surgical devices.
b) Avoid using powder jet devices (eg "Air-Flow").
c) Avoid using turbines.
d) Antiseptic mouthwashes can help minimize infection transmission.
e) Depending on the type and extent of exposure and the risk of infection, wear appropriate personal protective equipment consistently and properly. The additional use of visors / protective shields in dental treatment can further increase safety.
Furthermore, any form of treatment for risk groups (senior citizens, multimorbid patients, immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients or other health impaired patients) should be reduced to an absolutely necessary level, especially in order to avoid contacts in the waiting room or in the practice.
This is because these hygiene regulations assume that potentially infectious patients (viruses and bacteria, such as measles or HIV) regularly come to the dentist's office for treatment.
These guidelines affect every practice, every dentist, every employee equally. In addition, the following should be observed for the health protection of patients and the employees in the surgeries in order to prevent infection / transmission with SARS-CoV-2:
- Before the visit to the dentist, each patient is asked by telephone and again when entering the practice for COVID-19 symptoms from the past two weeks and must disinfect their hands when entering and leaving the practice.
- In the dental practice, every employee wears mouth-nose protection, also when talking to each other. Reception areas should be protected by a liquid-tight partition.
- Any physical greeting should be avoided.
- Treatment plans / appointments should be arranged in such a way that the distance rules can be observed both in the reception area and in the waiting area. Relatives should wait outside the practice.
- During the entire patient treatment glasses / if necessary. Protective visors / shields, mouth-nose protection, gloves and possibly protective gowns worn. The barrier function of the protective clothing can only be guaranteed if it is properly seated and adherence to grip discipline. Sufficient suction is strictly observed. Aerosol generation is minimized as much as possible.
- The applicable hygiene regulations are implemented between the patient contacts.
- Team meetings should take place regularly, in which the necessary measures and routines are discussed again, questions are clarified and adjustments are made, if necessary.
- During the breaks in treatment, the recommended minimum distances between employees should be observed.
- Employees with COVID-19 risk factors for severe courses should be removed from patient contact / sent home and - where possible - sent to the home office.
The BZÄK also recommends to effectively prevent the formation of aerosols in dental practice. The focus is on effective suction technology.
The following should also be taken into account:
a) Avoid the use of ultrasonic handpieces, piezoelectric operated ultrasonic and surgical devices.
b) Avoid using powder jet devices (eg "Air-Flow").
c) Avoid using turbines.
d) Antiseptic mouthwashes can help minimize infection transmission.
e) Depending on the type and extent of exposure and the risk of infection, wear appropriate personal protective equipment consistently and properly. The additional use of visors / protective shields in dental treatment can further increase safety.
Furthermore, any form of treatment for risk groups (senior citizens, multimorbid patients, immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients or other health impaired patients) should be reduced to an absolutely necessary level, especially in order to avoid contacts in the waiting room or in the practice.
