Covid-19 and Dental Health: Can You Go To The Dentist?

By Demion McTair Updated 7:30 p.m., Sunday, 5 April 2020, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4)

Kingstown (ON SVG) – The Coronavirus pandemic has thrown a lot of things into uncertainty.

Social gatherings are now being restricted by a need for social distancing to curb the spread of the virus, and non-essential movements are discouraged.

What if, however, you need to go to the dentist? Can you? Or, rather, should you?

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has outlined Dental Covid-19 Measures. The measures are to promote better staff and community health.

There are seven measures, according to a bulletin posted on their facebook page on April 3, 2020. they are:

1 All non-emergency dental procedures have been cancelled.

2. All cough or flu patients are to be refered to the Flu Clinic.

3. Heads of Departments are to be contacted for any suspected case of Covid-19.

4. There are to be a maximun of 20 dental patients daily. This includes the extraction clinic.

5. An arms length physical distancing is to be observed and practiced in waiting areas.

6. There is to be opportune treatment of all dental emergencies. These include; Abscesses, Trauma, Facial Swellings, and Badly decayed teeth.

7. Treat at home all cough and flu and contact only and where necessary and immediately the Covid-19 hotline at 1 784 534 – 4325