Dentists throughout New Hampshire, as in much of the country, have stopped doing elective procedures both to limit COVID-19 exposure and to save medical material, particularly masks.
“Dental offices are still open,” said Michael Auerbach, executive director of the New Hampshire Dental Society. “We do not want people going to the ER with a toothache because they think their dental office won’t see them. If you have an emergency, if you have pain or swelling, contact your dentist.”
But the professional association, as well as the national American Dental Association, is strongly recommending – although not mandating – that dentists do not perform cleanings, regular checkups and other non-emergency work for at least the next three weeks.
“In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA and NHDS recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments,” said a March 16 statement from Lindsey Jackson, president of the state dental society.
Dentists and dental technicians are considered at high risk of contracting coronavirus from infected patients because of the nature of their work.
“A recent study that showed that dentists are among the most vulnerable to this. Even the most basic restorative procedures send aerosols into the air,” said Auerbach.
Aerosols are moisture droplets so small that they can travel on air currents. They can carry viruses and bacteria. One reason dental staff wear masks is so they don’t inhale aerosols. But masks are in short supply.
“We’re faced with a mask shortage. There’s an absolute demand for certain masks that are particualry effective against aerosols. Many offices use these, many use lower-level masks … but right now it’s a competition to get the proper masks,” said Auerbach. “They’re till sitting in warehouse in China, and some U.S. manufacturers are ramping up production … but that stream of supplies isn’t going to come out for another month.”
A majority of dentists in New Hampshire are independent operators who own their own business, rather than members of corporate Dental Service Organizations. The cutback will devastate their business.
“I’m getting calls left and right from dentists and their teams. How to pay the mortgage, pay for medical equipment,” said Auerbach. “The financial impact, that’s the next step. We’re going to work with the state, governor, legislature, Small Business Administration, federal government. This is going to have a very long-term economic impact on small businesses.”
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
