The World Health Organization is recommending that routine dental exams be postponed in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The WHO released new guidance on Tuesday that recommends foregoing checkups and dental cleanings because the visits require dentists to operate in close proximity to the faces of patients, which could more easily result in community spread. The WHO did say that there should be exceptions for serious procedures and emergency visits.
“Their procedures involve face-to-face communication and frequent exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids and handling sharp instruments,” the WHO said. “Consequently, they are at high risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 or passing the infection to patients.”
It also emphasized the importance of dentists wearing personal protective equipment, including masks, and recommended that the offices and facilities where they work be properly ventilated so that airflow is maximized.
Worldwide there have been more than 20.1 million cases of the respiratory illness and at least 738,000 deaths since the pandemic began in 2019 in central China.
