A dentist from Sydney encouraged Australians to step up their oral health despite the new dental practice restrictions enacted by the government.
A committee led by the Chief Medical Officer put level three restrictions on dental services.
Restrictive measures were put in place to control the use of aerosols in dental services.
Rachel Mascord, a dentist from Sydney, said that it is the time when Australians should be mindful about their oral hygiene.
Dental treatments as a luxury
Using aerosols or sprays of bodily fluids can be highly infections for dental health professionals.
However, Dr. Mascord said that it is like cutting an arm off. Using aerosols has been part of the essential dental services provided by dentists across Australia.
Banning the use of aerosols pushed dentists to consider alternatives to deliver appropriate dental care that can be a bit of a luxury.
Dentists including Dr. Mascord use hygiene measures to minimise the prevalence of saliva during a dental procedure.
They are completely aware and in control of screening procedures to trace the risks of dental patients. Dr. Mascord said that they do a background check over the phone to determine any history of the patient that may reflect the risk for the practice.
Coronavirus and AIDS era
Dr. Leonard Fabre, a dentist from Newcastle said that the current pandemic presented him with an ethical dilemma. After 47 years of practice, he said that the experience with coronavirus is almost similar to the AIDS crisis back in the 80s.
He admits that due to his respiratory issues, he is exposed to a higher risk.
Dr. Fabre is confronted by a contradiction on whether to continue to render dental service or just keep himself in check.
Dr. Mascord highlights the scarcity of personal protective equipment as a crucial factor that deters dentists from pursuing their jobs.
This even affected other practices because they completely shut down their doors due to the threat of COVID-19.
Junk food as a ‘siren song’
Both Dr. Fabre and Dr. Mascord are actively engaging patients with the message.
They urge everyone to take care of their oral health because due to the current restrictions, dentists won’t be able to carry out dental procedures the same as before.
Considering the present circumstances that pushed people to work from home, Dr. Fabre doesn’t see any excuses at all for people to take care of their oral health.
Slacking off in isolation should not mean that eating habits must be neglected. He considered junk food as a siren song for people to disregard the importance of oral health.
Oral health may heighten conditions
For many Australians, dental hygiene is a complicated matter to discuss. They are disabled individuals who are extremely reliant to dentists. Not to mention those who have chronic conditions that can be linked with oral health, dental hygiene is a matter worthy of attention.
Dr. Mascord expressed her concern towards patients with periodontal diseases who will need continuous check-ups and monitoring.
She said that provided the stringent restrictions, what would be the future for these people?
Australian Dental Association issued a memorandum stating that its members should ensure patient care while minimising the strain on the health system.
Kathleen Matthews, president of ADA South Wales, said that dentists can continue their services as long as they can ensure the right precautions.
