Dentists, too, need to balance the books. 

So do surgeons, obstetricians-gynecologists and others in the allied health profession who are in close contact with patients.

For example, dentists work around the nose, throat and mouth areas of the patient, the very areas where the coronavirus lurk. The virus could be in the saliva and air droplets produced when dentists do even simple procedures like regular teeth scaling and cleaning.

Many other doctors too like surgeons delay non-emergency procedures that are in close proximity with internal organs or blood or anything liquid in any form from the body.

Doctors also delay seeing patients, making sure that patients have been screened for possible COVID-19 infection.

They make time to disinfect working areas before tending to the next patient. Standard health protocols are followed, like changing Personal Protective Equipment or PPEs after each patient – for all the dental team, including the dentist.

As a result, fewer patients are accommodated compared to pre-COVID times. Where you once saw all seats occupied in the waiting lounge or corridor by patients waiting to see the doctor or dentist, now you see only a handful – at a social distance at that.

All these take time and expenses.

So much so that many in the medical profession are earning less and, as we have said, finding it difficult to balance the books.

“The pandemic has dentistry in a precarious position in Northern Ireland, with knock-on effects for patients,” says Dr. Lucy Stock, a dentist in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“Dentists and patients must wait while surgeries are cleaned after every patient,” she says writing in The Irish Times.

“Additional PPE and other measures involved in creating a safe environment for patients mean spiraling costs for dentists,” she continues. “In my 23 years of working in dentistry, times have never felt so uncertain for the profession. “Dentistry in Northern Ireland is in crisis as the costs associated with the additional PPE and all the other measures involved in creating a safe environment for patients and staff during the pandemic skyrocket. Not only have the costs for delivering treatment spiraled but we are also not able to see as many patients during the day.”

It is the same here in the Philippines. If you have ever wondered why your friendly neighborhood dental clinic has not reopened, there you have part of the answer.

I know of a few dentists who have ventured into other businesses in the meantime in order to ride out the pandemic storm.

Those are the lucky ones, who have alternative sources of income to fall back on.

Many have closed, period. And that means no work too for the dental staff.

At the end of the day, it’s the patient too that suffers as oral health care is neglected or delayed.

It may not be obvious to many, but dentists too are essential workers and are part of the health manpower in the front lines.

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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./WDJ