The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is warning that recent guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) on delaying routine oral healthcare could affect overall healthcare and jeopardize access to oral health professionals in the future.
The WHO released guidance on August 3 that advises routine nonessential oral healthcare be delayed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates from community transmission to cluster cases or according to official recommendations at national, subnational, or local levels, according to the ADEA. ADEA President Karen West, DMD, said, however, that it's possible to deliver safe and effective dental care if specific protocols are followed, including the use of personal protective equipment.
Furthermore, Dr. West said that if routine dental care were to be discouraged, it would have a detrimental effect on access to oral health professionals in the future. It could interrupt the ongoing training at dental schools and programs where students, under the supervision of dentists, provide care to underserved populations, according to the association.
"We need to make sure that patients get the dental care they need and that dental and dental hygiene students get the clinical training they need so that our commitment to treating patients holistically is not eroded during this pandemic and beyond," Dr. West said in a statement.
