I posted this on a professional dental website whose

[PCIntern]

Membership is limited to dental professionals including Drs and staff:

Almost any procedure which we accomplish causes a volatilization of particles which saturate the room air wherein we are located. We breathe this in continuously and it’s everywhere in the office. This material, once landing on a surface can survive possibly for nine days. Now we are not just talking about wipeable surfaces, but every surface imaginable. If the Coronavirus enters your office, and you and your staff work on that patient, you and they are going to be inundated with viral particles. After that it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen. I practiced through the AIDS epidemic which for a variety of reasons was very frightening in the beginning. I just showed up and did my job as I’ve done for 41 years. I hope and pray that we, our families, our staffs, and of course our patients, do well with all of this. I am vaguely pessimistic but that’s my nature. I again hope and pray that I’m wrong. Good luck to us all.

These are my feelings in the matter. No amount of mask-wearing or wiping of surfaces will prevent inhalation of the viral particles. How each of us will do is up in the air.

[spanone]

1. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ K&R⭐️⭐️⭐️

Take great care.

[Sherman A1]

2. K&R

Exceptionally well written.

Best of Luck to You and Your Staff.

[hlthe2b]

3. If you ever practiced during a measles outbreak, you've already experienced a more infectious

virus then this COVID-19 (or any coronavirus) is likely to be, given its survival (at infective levels on surfaces for many hours), and spread not only by droplets but true aerosolization as well.

It certainly is an issue, but perspective... I would think about wearing face shields, rather than simply masking though.

[PCIntern]

4. Understood but meaningless in my profession.

High speed handpiece at 500,000 rpm with water spray. The room is aerosolized. No protection will do the trick. None.

[Hortensis]

7. Grim. Our protection, of course, is the low fatality rate.

At least while there are hospital beds available for everyone. Numbers of death are likely to be high, but not percentages. Most will shrug it off and reportedly should have temporary immunity.

I hope most dental offices offer all staff good insurance, just in case, though. Many who require hospitalization to pull through it may think they want to die when they see what that cost.

[hlthe2b]

9. I'd surely institute some screening for fever and exposure to ill contacts.

If you are computerized, you might be able to send the questionnaire via email prior to the appointment and set up your reminders to require them to bring it or return it electronically beforehand. At least have your appointment reminder phone person inform them they must call before coming in with any illness symptoms.

I'd guess you've undoubtedly thought of this, but...

[PCIntern]

10. Yes but

People have to wait for months for their appointment with us and people lie routinely at the office. Yes I know....

[zackymilly]

5. Great. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow and I'm already stressed.

I'm on blood pressure meds and my bp is under control, until I hit the dentist chair. They check it before doing anything involving novacaine, because it makes my bp even higher. I've had to cancel procedures because my bp wasn't low enough. ARrrrrrrfgh!

[BigmanPigman]

6. I got my teeth cleaned this morning and brought two masks

in case she needed one. I can't wear mine on my mouth obviosly but it could cover my nose well. The dental assistant said no one besides me has been concerned at all. I asked if she's washed her hands and she always wears a mask but I was still a little nervous.

[cwydro]

8. Well, I'm terrible about putting off going to the dentist, but this sounds like a good reason to me.

“volatizilation of particles which saturate the room” - ok, I’m done for awhile.

Gah.

Stay safe.

[PCIntern]

12. Now or later but eventually

we see you....

😁

[Hekate]

11. Thanks for sharing, PCI. I'm glad you're educating us as well as your peers.

Stay well.