GOING TO THE DENTIST IS AS SAFE AS DRINKING A GLASS OF WATER

BLOG #43  GOING TO THE DENTIST IS AS SAFE AS DRINKING A GLASS OF WATER
Dr. Spiker Davis D.D.S.  713-781-2800    Dr. Matt Guerre D.D.S. 713-781-2800
In collaboration with Dr. John Seger M.D. Cardiologist 713-791-9444

I just read this week a study out of Ohio State University saying their research finds VERY little danger of getting COVID from your dental visits.  In fact, the study says you are just as safe in the dentists chair as you are drinking a glass of water.

The study goes on to explain that the misconception about a dentists office is that we have all been afraid of aerosol sprays coming out of the patients mouth while having a dental procedure done.  My hygienists and myself have been told that the dentist or staff are much more likely to catch the COVID from the patients than the patients are to catch COVID from the dentist or his staff.  In my opinion, the COVID virus in a patients mouth would mix with the tiny droplets coming from the water spray delivered by the drills or the polishing equipment.  But guess what?  That is not what their research said.  In our office not one staff member has contracted the virus.  Probably because we all wear masks and sometimes shields to prevent us from inhaling the virus.  We also have HEPA filters in each treatment room that tend to draw any aerosols towards the machine and away from the dentist or the staff.  Not to mention that I think the dentists in America do an outstanding job of sterilizing equipment and countertops etc.

The findings from this study should make dentists and patients feel safe about the environment in a dental office and feel safe about going to the dentist.  In fact, there is much more evidence emerging that if you don’t go to the dentist and thus have gum inflammation etc., you are much more susceptible to COVID.  I read one article that said 80% of the patients who have died from Covid had gum disease.  In our office there have been 5 patient deaths that we know of.  Fortunately, none of these patients had been to our office since 2019 (before Covid started in February 2020).  60% of those patients were living in nursing homes and had gum disease the last time we saw them.  I don’t believe that nursing homes are known for brushing and flossing teeth very well.  In fact, most of our patients that have been working in nursing homes don’t take very good care of their own mouth, much less the mouth of those patients.  One patient that had died was treated in November of 2019 for gum disease in our office and contracted COVID in March of 2020.  They spent some extended time in the hospital and then died.  Do you think that Hospitals brush and floss those patients mouth while there????  Somehow, I doubt it.

The lead author of this study goes on to say that “dentistry has continued to lead the way in infection control practices.  In fact, studies have found that “LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF DENTISTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19!  Hopefully, this will set your mind at rest.

SUMMARY-In my opinion, if it is more likely to get Covid from Drinking water than from your dentist, then what is the big deal???  Go to your dentist right now and get a checkup.  Let’s make sure your gums are in good health and you need to do your part at home.  That means to FLOSS AFTER EVERY MEAL AND BRUSH AFTER EVERY MEAL  We do our part and you do your part and we will be a lot safer.

“THE MOUTH IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH”.  BRUSH AND FLOSS TWICE DAILY, AVOID SUGAR FOR 2021 AND SEE YOUR DENTIST AND PHYSICIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.  

Spiker Davis D.D.S. spiker@thepaleodentist.com John Seger M.D. Matt Guerre D.D.S.

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RANT AND RAVE-I am so frustrated with how many people are worried about catching COVID at the dentist.  I’ve been worried all this time about myself or my staff catching the virus from the patients.  Thank goodness the evidence is in.  It is safe to go to the DENTIST!  CDC even came out this week and said that it is safe for vaccinated people to remove their masks.  They did caution that maybe you should wear a mask in a very crowded area such as a sporting event or if you have not yet been vaccinated.  I still believe that if you are worried then wear your mask, but the evidence is in.

STAY SAFE.  WORRY ABOUT NOTHING AND PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.