Is going to the dentist in lockdown a decision against your better judgment?

Chances are, if you happen to see someone lingering outside a dental practice with protective gloves and a respirator N95 mask on these days, they are probably thinking how to bow out of their appointment at the last minute.

I know this because on Tuesday, I stood outside a dental clinic for a long time before my emergency dentist appointment at 3:20pm, fidgeting with my PPE. ‘Why am I so reluctant?’ I thought to myself. For years going to the dentist rarely bothered me but, like so many people who are afraid of catching Covid-19 in lockdown, I did not want to set foot into an enclosed public space where I knew physical distancing would be impossible to maintain.

I have spent my last week suffering gum pain. The pain did not cease after taking herbal medicine and numbing gel. There was red swelling in my upper gum area and my smile was crooked. I’m not sure how it happened, but it meant that after weeks of avoiding any sort of physical closeness with other people, I needed to brave the dentist’s chair.

In my head, dental visits are not Covid-safe activities – held indoors, medical practitioners work face-to-face with open-mouthed patients for extended periods of time. I searched for the relevant information on the internet about visiting the dentist in the pandemic. One professor from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Mark Wolff, said: “We, unfortunately, work in a danger zone.” While another, a WHO dental officer, Benoit Varenne said that procedures including air and water sprays, ultrasonic cleaning and polishing could all send coronaviruses airborne out of a patient’s mouth. A friend who studies Dentistry told me studies have shown that viable Covid-19 has been found in aerosols in healthcare settings. My dad also told me to “wait it out”, as he was afraid that the clinic would be a hotspot for transmissions.

The clinic’s waiting room was very different from what I had envisaged. It was quiet, and the air reeked of chemical disinfectants. I was the only patient waiting in reception. ‘Perhaps it is quite safe to see the dentist after all,’ I reassured myself. After filling out the Covid-screening questions and having my temperature checked, I was led to a small and cramped dental room. My suspicions were confirmed. Two dentists were standing in the room within a metre from me. Yasmin told me that dentists often greet the patient with the standard PPE on to reduce patient anxiety, which includes a surgical mask, visor and an apron. But these two dentists were only wearing a loose surgical mask and an apron. I became anxious despite a new survey, published by the American Dental Association in October last year, indicating that less than 1 per cent of dentists nationwide have tested positive for Covid-19.

“Please have a seat,” Dr. Patel said. I hesitantly took off my mask and sat down on the dental chair ready for my gum inspection. ‘The moment has come’, I thought. As the dentist’s face was looming over me, I closed my eyes and braced myself for inhaling the same air particles as my dentist. ‘What if he had Covid?’ I thought nervously. ‘He must see a few patients a day. Surely he does not get tested every day.’

Dr. Patel first examined the conditions of my teeth, then he took x-ray pictures by inserting an x-ray film into my mouth. I opened my eyes and saw his face within 10 centimetres to mine. My sceptical thoughts began to roam without inhibition in my head again. Next, he put his finger on my swelling gum and tapped each of my upper teeth with some sort of dental scaler until I was uncomfortably twisting in the chair.

He removed the tools and I sat up. I put on my mask instantly, but he lowered his below nose level. I was shocked slightly but did not say anything. He told me that my teeth are healthy despite some enamel erosion, and the swelling on my gum might be an ulcer. “An ulcer?” I asked. “Shouldn’t ulcers be white or yellow? But my swelling is dark red.”

“Sometimes it can be red,” Dr. Patel said quickly. “I recommend checking in with us if the swelling or the pain does not go away in two weeks.”

‘That’s it?’ I thought angrily. “What about the bleedings?” I asked one more time to identify the cause. “Well, sometimes inflamed gums could cause bleedings. Please use a Fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly,” he said and then stood up. I paid the fee and left the clinic.

‘What a load of rubbish,’ I thought. My gum pain got get better after I took paracetamol. I can’t help but think that I risked my life and wasted money for knowledge I already had. I’m probably not going to the dentist again anytime soon. Still, better for your gums to be safe than sorry.

Xindi Wei

Featured image courtesy of Bofu Shaw via Unsplash. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.