Dental Implants and Safety Protocols During the COVID-19 Pandemic - East Bay Dental

There are always a good number of reasons behind the occurrence of tooth loss among us. The reasons depend upon the current circumstances and also the health and the genetics of an individual. In some cases, it might be due to an accident or a sudden and immediate impact that results in the loss of more than one tooth. On the other hand, the causes of tooth loss might also be due to tooth decay, gum diseases, medical conditions affecting dental health, and genetic defects or disorders affecting the shape, structure, strength, and overall health of the mouth and the jaw.

There might be many reasons behind teeth loss, but we should also remember that teeth or tooth loss affects our health with many activities and aspects of life, including eating and speaking. It has been observed that people who face or suffer from tooth loss lack confidence while speaking because of the fear of embarrassment in public. Apart from this, if we see from a dental health perspective if tooth loss is not cured or treated correctly in time, it might have long-term and adverse effects on both our dental and overall health. Most of us might correctly think that problems like tooth loss must be treated and cured as soon as possible; there might be fear or tension among people while visiting a doctor or a health clinic due to the COVID-19 pandemic as visiting health places might risk the lives of people as there are maximum chances that people may get infected while visiting areas which come under emergency services and necessities for public among which healthcare also comes.

Our dental clinics and healthcare experts understand this condition and fear of spreading this deadly virus among people and its seriousness and critical consequences caused by the virus. Because of this, our dentists and dental clinics have ensured that all safety measures and guidelines for COVID-19, prescribed by both governments and World Health Organization (WHO), have been implemented and applied to all departments and areas with strict nature. These dental homes have also made sure that the best and standard quality of equipment is used for the implementation of safety protocols. Dentists and dental clinics do this, and dental homes to ensure safe and secure dental treatments and procedures with their visitors and patients.

In this article, we are going to explain to you what the expectations of the dentists, dental clinics, and dental homes are from the visitors and patients while they will visit them in this time of the pandemic. Here, we will also explain the usages and purposes of using protective equipment in a dental clinic or visiting a dentist in great detail. Such measures are taken by the dentists and dental clinics or dental homes to ensure a safe and secure experience for both patients and staff.

Before moving on to the great and detailed discussions on all these topics, let us quickly understand why quick and efficient treatment of tooth loss is essential.

Why should one not wait for Dental Implants?

Even if we keep aside the fact that tooth or teeth loss will affect and impact the appearance of our smiles in a negative way, there are many other dangerous side-effects of teeth or tooth loss if not treated properly in time. If one or more than one tooth is missing from the jaw, it may create problems and obstacles while you are eating and chewing the food and adversely affects our consumption of liquids for our body. This will lead to a reduction in the quality of the diet and also affects our overall nutrition and health. Lost teeth can also hurt your oral communication, especially if the front teeth or front part of the tooth are missing or absent in the mouth.

Another dangerous side-effect and consequence of the lost tooth or teeth can also be a gradual reduction or decline in bone density, bone growth, and bone development in the jaw and mouth area. If it is ignored or left unchecked for a more extended period, it would also lead to gradual bone density loss in the other teeth present in the adjacent side of the jaw.

The overall purpose or objective of dental implant procedure is to regain full mouth function and also to prevent such types of dental problems in the future in a natural way.

In short, if we try to sum up or recap the entire content, the more we delay in addressing the missing tooth or teeth, the more we are at risk of the development of additional or unwanted complications in our dental health. Because of this, it is always considered advisable that one must proceed with the advice of the dentist for the dental implantation or other dental treatments so that the dentists can initiate the process for the replacement of missing tooth or teeth in the affected area as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience with regards to dental health in the coming future.

In case if you are delaying the process of treatment for the missing or lost teeth or tooth, then no worries. Many dentists, dental clinics, and dental homes are following all safety guidelines and protocols prescribed by the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) in every part of the world, especially in developed and developing nations. In healthcare sectors and places, health protocols are taken seriously. People who are not following the given rules and protocols will face strict actions and consequences from the healthcare places they are working on.

Now, most dental or other healthcare clinics in the world have updated themselves with the best quality of safety and protection for their staff and patients.

How have dental clinics changed, especially in terms of safety protocols after COVID-19?

Dental clinics worldwide have undergone many changes in terms of safety and protection for the patients during and after the pandemic of COVID-19. The changes and differences experienced by the dental clinics can be divided into two different categories.

First would be the installation of the new array with diversity which would include new protective and safety equipment for the clinic for visitors and patients, and the other part of the array would have personal protective equipment for the staff working in the dental clinic.

The second category would include a set of rules, guidelines, and protocols for the staff and patients who have to be followed strictly without any failure to avoid the virus's spread in the clinic.

Once you visit a dental clinic after or during the COVID-19 pandemic, you will observe and notice that hand sanitizers are placed at every point and moment. You will also sense plexiglass as barriers at the familiar places or ends in the dental clinics where people gather more often. All the team members, staff, patients, and visitors are equipped with safety equipment like face masks and face shields.

Face masks are mandatory for patients in the waiting room and can only be removed unless and until advised or told by the dentist. Surfaces in the clinic, including door handles, chairs, debit card machines, are cleaned and sanitized regularly after each use.

An advanced HEPA filtration system is also installed in the clinics to clean and filter air. Clear plastic room dividers are also installed to ensure separation and isolation for each area of treatment. In a few clinics, 'vapor vac', which are repositionable, are also present for the containment and extraction of any airborne particles formed during dental treatments.

All instruments used in a dental clinic are kept on track and recorded, cataloged, and sanitized after every use in specialized sanitation units. At the end of the day, dental clinics also undergo an ozone sanitation process for the elimination of contaminants from all surfaces.

In addition to sanitation practices for equipment and dental clinics, daily screenings are carried out for staff and patients, including symptom review and temperature check before they begin to work at the dental clinic. This is done to ensure that no person comes in contact with COVID-19 infected patients can take place to safely present and work in the clinic.

To get complete access to the list or set of guidelines for COVID-19 for both staff and patients, please visit the website or read the safety protocols displayed outside the clinic for both staff and patients.

So, there is no need to worry or delay your dental treatment because of COVID-19, because everything is taken care of by the dentists and dental clinics for the safety and security of both staff and patients.

Before Procedure for Dental Implant

Before proceeding with the dental implant treatment or tooth replacement treatment, make sure you undergo a consultation and a dental checkup with your dentist. This procedure takes place in the clinics which offer the best and standardized quality of dental treatment with all safety and security protocols and guidelines for dental checkups and dental treatments during COVID-19.

After the consultation process, you will be explained about the further treatment of dental implantation. You will be presented about the treatment procedure and what precautions and steps need to be taken before, during, and after the treatment. You will also be informed and told about the healing and recovery processes along with their time. You will also be advised on what type of tooth replacement or dental implantation surgery you must undergo, depending on the conditions of your tooth or teeth.

During Dental Implant Procedure

Before moving for the treatment, you will undergo a COVID-19 test with your dentist. After that, the entire room where you will be experiencing your dental treatment will be completely sealed along with a HEPA filter for the prevention of air movements. The dentist dealing with you will also be equipped with safety equipment, including a P100 respirator (higher level than N95 masks).

After this, the treatment process will be the same as what was practiced before COVID-19, and you will have new implants on your jaws and mouth, depending on the condition of your teeth.

After Dental Implant Procedure

Once the installation process of dental implants is complete, your dentist will always be in touch with you during the healing process as they will guide you through phone consultations and in-clinic visits. They will also address all your queries related to the healing process after the installation of the implants.

After the recovery process, you will enjoy your life usually without any hesitation and problems.