By Dr. Joseph D. Lim

Filipino dentists are not alone, struggling with how to re-open clinics without compromising the safety of patients, the dental staff and the dentist.

I believe the struggle is worldwide as dentists try with all their best to comply with guidelines made by dental groups, such as our very own Philippine Dental Association or PDA.

The PDA has listed the protocols that dentists must follow in order to re-open their practices, from screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms before they are allowed into the clinic to wearing Personal Protective Equipment or PPE (for both dentists and staff) to limiting the number of patients inside waiting rooms where, by the way, magazines and newspapers are not allowed anymore because multiple holders without symptoms may spread the virus.

Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, is “fighting a short-term and a long-term battle” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

That is how Mr. Michael Donaldson describes dentistry as a result of the coronavirus pandemic setting in Northern Ireland of which he is the chief dental officer.

Mr. Donaldson said the amount of PPE to be distributed to dentists was “colossal,” requiring 30 long trucks and more than 700 pallets to be transported.

Dentists usually pay for their own PPE, but Northern Ireland will provide the PPE free of charge this time. How we wish this is also true here in our country, especially for dental clinics coping with the financial difficulties brought by the pandemic.

Dentists in Northern Ireland have been able to provide non-urgent care to the public since late June, according to the British Dental Association.

The struggle is also reflected in the large amount of PPE required for Non-Aerosol-Generating procedures (AGPs), but which should be on time when dentists are allowed to conduct AGPs starting July.

The Business Services Organization is working with a distribution company to make the delivery happen, however, very challenging the logistics requirements are.

The need for oral health attention is such in Northern Ireland that in one week alone, about 11,000 patients were treated as dentists move through their phased return to full routine care provision. The lockdown, of course, had a negative effect on dental health, said Mr. Donaldson, adding the delivery of PPE should enable an estimated 38,000 patients to be seen each week, which was a “very significant advance” on the 4,000 emergency patients seen weekly during the pandemic.

An increase in patients who are able to be seen would help address levels of dental disease, and that the service was “keeping on top” of urgent cases, he said.

We still don’t know how many dental clinics have reopened in the Philippines.

What we know, however, is that many clinics are also struggling to provide the best and the safest oral health care to their patients — by following the protocols recommended by the PDA, starting with the procurement of much needed PPE which are also in high demand from front line health workers tending directly to COVID-19 patients.

***

Dr. Joseph D. Lim is a 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