Las Vegas dentists are navigating how to re-open in a safe way, but some dental hygienists have fears about going back to work.
SAFE, SANITARY WAY.BUT, SOME HYGIENISTS AREWORRIED ABOUT GOING BACK TOWORK.13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER KELSEYMCFARLAND EXPLAINS HOW YOURNEXT TRIP TO THE DENTIST MAY BEDIFFERENT.IT'S NO SECRET THAT MANYPROCEDURES THAT HAPPEN IN THESECHAIRS ARE INVASIVE WHICH ISWHY THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUTTHE SPREAD OF COVID-19.SUMMERLIN DENTAL NEVER CLOSEDIT'S DOORS THEY SAY IT'SBECAUSE THEY HAVE THE GEAR TOPROTECT THE PATIENT AND THEPERSON WORKING ON THEM.DR.MATT WELEBIR OWNER OF P-3DENTAL GROUP..IS TAKING OFF HIS DAILYPROTECTIVE GEAR."OUR NEW REALITY" HE SAYS HE'SBEEN WORKING THROUGH THEPANDEMIC BECAUSE HIS OFFICESHAD THIS GEAR FROM THE START.THE PROBLEM IS NOT ALLDENTAL OFFICES DO--- SO THOSESTAY CLOSED.WELEBIR: "80 PERCENT OF THEPATIENTS I'VE BEEN SEEING ARENEW TO METHEY'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE SEENBY US WITH ABSCESSES, ROOTCANALS, WISDOM TEETH, PAIN.THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TREATINGPRIMARILY.WE'RE SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO ASENSE OF NORM WITH CAVITIES..DECAY ONLY GETS LARGER WITHTIME HYGIENE SERVICES."OTHER VALLEY DENTISTS ARESLOWLY PUTTING ROUTINE CLEANINGSERVICES BACK ON THEIRSCHEDULES.THE AMERICAN DENTAL HYGIENEASSOCIATION ARGUES IT'S TOOSOON.MATT CRESPIN: "WE HAVECONTINUED TO RECOMMENDPOSTPONEMENT OF ANY ELECTIVEAND NON-EMERGENCY CARE ACROSSTHE COUNTRY..IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CDC ANDOSHA WHO ARE ALSO MAKING THATRECOMMENDATION" HERE'S WHY:AEROSOLS ARE MOISTUREDROPLETS .OFTEN PRODUCED BYTHE INSTRUMENTS THAT DENTALHYGIENISTS USE.AEROSOLS WOULD EASILY SPREADA RESPIRATORY DISEASE LIKECOVID-19.MATT CRESPIN, MPH, RDH (ADHAPRESIDENT) "ONE OF MY FEARS ISIS A DENTAL OFFICE ONCE OFTHE NEXT BIG OUTBREAKS POINTLIKE WE ARE SEEING IN MEATPACKING PLANTS.I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD BE THECASE BUT THE CLOSE PROXIMITYTHAT WE WORK WITH PATIENTS INAND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF PPEIN A LOT OF CASES WOULD PUTPEOPLE AT HIGH RISK" DR.WELEBIR SAYS THEY WILL SOONHAVE EQUIPMENT TO MITIGATETHAT."THERE'S WHERE WE USE HIGHVOLUME EVACUATION WHICH IS AHIGH VOLUME VACUUM UNIT..THAT WILL GET ALL OF THAT INWELLIBER ASKS THAT IF YOU DOHAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY..TO COME TO AN OPEN DENTISTSA RISE IN DRUNK DRIVING DURINGTHE PANDEMIC.AU
As dentists navigate a way to reopen safely, dental hygienists have fears about going back to work.