COVID-19 Update: Saturday, March 14

Will we continue seeing patients?

As of Saturday, March 14, 2020, Campbellsville Dental Care will continue to provide regular care for our patients while following CDC and WHO guidelines for infection control and limiting the risk of viral exposure. However, if you are concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak we understand if you would like to reschedule any planned non-emergency appointments. If you feel you may be sick (fever, cough, shortness of breath), we encourage you to practice caution and consider rescheduling any non-urgent treatment to limit the risk to our community and staff.

Is the dental office a safe place during this outbreak?

Neither the CDC or WHO have recommended dental care providers discontinue or suspend treatment due to the outbreak of this new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Standard infection control procedures are adequate to destroy this particular virus, meaning that our standard, everyday infection control procedures are more than enough to destroy and limit the spread of this virus. Here’s a quote from the CDC:

Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures are appropriate for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings, including those patient-care areas in which aerosol-generating procedures are performed. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are recommended for use against SARS-CoV-2.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/caring-for-patients.html

We have followed the CDC’s guidelines for sterilization, disinfection and infection control since the day we opened our doors, and we will continue to do so. Our staff will be taking extra precautions to protect our patients by doubling down on cleaning common areas like waiting rooms and patient restrooms.

What can patients do to limit the risk of community spread of this virus?

To limit the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus or any other transmissible infection like the flu virus, we recommend the following precautions for our patients.

• Please arrive promptly at your scheduled appointment time, rather than earlier than your scheduled time. This will limit crowded reception rooms and common areas, minimizing the risk of transmission of infectious particles (including influenza) among patients waiting to be seen.

• If at all possible, please do not bring children, parents, grandparents, or friends to your dental visit. This increases the risk of transmission.

• Wash your hands frequently. Hand sanitizer is available in common areas like our reception areas. Hand soap and disposable towels are readily available in patient restrooms.

• Practice covering your cough by using your elbow or forearm, rather than your hands.

• If you have symptoms of respiratory infection: fever of 100.5° or greater, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pain in the chest, please consider rescheduling any elective (non-emergency) dental treatment.

• If you are symptomatic, but in need of emergency care, please notify our office staff prior to your arrival to our office. We will take additional infection control measures to provide care with limited risk of transmission.

It is important to remember that, as with most viruses, a patient who contracts the COVID-19 virus will likely be contagious prior to developing symptoms. This means that you can pass the virus to another person/people before ever showing a fever, cough or any other symptoms. It is essential that we practice these basic

Is this all an overreaction?

Simply put, no. I did a brief video presentation on Facebook and Instagram explaining why this viral outbreak is different from previous scares like SARS, bird/swine flu, etc. This particular disease (COVID-19) has spread much, much faster and further than any novel virus in recent years. Significant public health measures have not been able to keep pace with the spread of this outbreak.

Many have compared this viral disease to a common cold or bad case of the flu. While most people who contract the SARS-CoV-2 have demonstrated moderate symptoms, this virus has a far higher fatality rate than the influenza A/B viruses. The rapid spread, increased risk of severe illness or death, and our limited understanding of this new virus mean that it is all our responsibility to protect our communities, specifically those most at-risk.

What happens next?

Fortunately, we have not yet had a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Taylor County or the surrounding counties. I suspect, however, that in the coming weeks we will see people in our communities affected by this virus. If and when that occurs, we may consider modifying our operations to limit treatment to urgent and emergency treatments only. However, neither the CDC, the World Health Organization or the American Dental Association have made any such recommendations as of this writing. One of our core elements is to promote health. We will continue to do that by providing the best possible patient care and, if necessary, limiting operations to minimize the risk of community infection. Our communities are stronger and healthier when we work together. Let’s look out for each other and protect our loved ones by following the recommendations of our global, national, state and local leaders and public health/infectious disease experts.