As dental clinics reopen most are operating at 50 per cent capacity

Unless you have a throbbing toothache or other dental emergency, a routine trip to the dentist is something you may want to postpone a while longer.

Dentists in Saskatchewan went back to work Monday as part of the province’s re-opening plan for phase 1.

A trip to the dentist will look a lot different compared to how it was before COVID-19.  They are operating at about 50 per cent capacity and they have to follow strict Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements set out by The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

650 CKOM spoke with one dentist who wished to remain anonymous because dentists in the province were instructed to send all media requests to The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

We have put out multiple requests for comments from the college, but they have not responded.

According to the dentist we spoke to, the college has put out some stringent protocols in terms of PPE.  Gowns, caps, faceshields and N95 masks are all required.

“It is pretty much the same as hospital settings.”

When a procedure is done at one station, they have to wait for two hours before they can clean it and use it again.

“There’s a settling time for aerosols of 120 minutes,” he explained.

The areas where patients are treated need to be as bare and minimal as possible – meaning pictures and certificates have been taken down.

“They’ve also asked us to enclose the rooms so a lot of clinics now have polly wrapped walls and polly-walls framed up.”

As far as running out of PPE, this particular dentist said the college has been sourcing for more supplies for them.

“Dentists have always had to source their own PPE privately. The college has given us a couple of suppliers, which are running low on PPE as well.  There is a concern that there is a low amount of PPE – but really there’s low PPE for everybody, everywhere – there’s a worldwide shortage.”

He says the college has been able to source them a couple N95 masks and have been helping dentists get fitted so they are at least able to provide emergency care.

Right now this particlar dental office is seeing patients alternating between emergency and urgent care. Routine check-ups will need to wait for now.

“Basically our office is running around 50 per cent capacity now because of the need to have more guidelines, but we are rationing our PPE.  We’re only seeing patients with emergenies or that need urgent care.”

He says it’s definitely not business as usual, but dentists are doing the best they can in these not so ideal circumstances.

“We hope that eventually this will work itself out.”

In an email, the Canadian Dental Association provided us with this information:

“The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and provincial dental associations across Canada are working diligently with government officials and regulatory bodies to help dental offices gradually re-open to provide more dental services. Complying with social distancing guidelines and keeping patients, dentists and the dental staff protected are top priorities.”

“As patients return to their dental office for care, they may notice other important changes, such as additional questions before their appointments, possible changes to the office including the waiting room, reception area or patient care areas, and staff wearing different personal protective equipment.”