Dental cleaning safe from Covid19?

There will always be risks, but being fully vaxxed is most important at the moment as far as I'm concerned.

Dentists and assistants will still wear masks (some also wear face shields), and I think some type of COVID will be around for years to come and we all will need to get used to and accept it as the new normal.

I have no concerns about COVID19 at my dentist.

He is hyper-safe. At the same time, he raised his prices to cover for the extra precautions.
What he told me is that he does everything and more than what the health authorities require.
He says he knows of other dentists who just do enough so that their patients feel comfortable.

Catnippy wrote: ↑ So I see that quite a few people are planning to continue wearing their masks for a while. For a senior (no autoimmunity or comorbidities), would you say it's safe to go for a dental cleaning? It just seems so close contact with another person with my mouth open for 30 minutes at least - not quick like a haircut.

Seems like cases are rising after capacity limits are lifting, so pandemic is not over?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/c ... -1.6396491

yes.
"the other person" is shielded, double masked and room has some air movement/air cleaner going.

I have cancer and have no immune system, and I had zero concern, currently under active treatment with chemo. So I think you will be fine. Everyone in the clinic I go to is triple vaxed, N95's Face shields and goggles, huge HEPA filters etc. They also make special accomodations for me me to be seen early before they open to prevent exposure to others for me, they decided to do this on their own. The one time I had to go during normal hours, I just had to call they told me when the waiting room was empty and took me straight to the treatment room, and same thing on the way out. My dentist and oral surgeon have been amazing I have never felt uneasy, the entire staff is very caring and thoughtful around my medical situation.
Neglecting your health will be much worse for you, skip other things but health care is important.

Early on in the pandemic you'd have been more concerned, now, not so much. Since the re-start back in May 2020 and all the new COVID19 and general Infection Prevention and Control protocols, it's fairly safe. A lot of dental offices had to retrofit to make it safe (i.e. enclosing rooms, isolated HEPA filtration systems) too.

If you haven't seen a dentist in over two years, you are going to have far bigger risks from this than from Covid.

If concerned, ask for the first appointment on a Monday morning.

Nobody can tell you with any degree of certainty if it's safe or not. You may get run over by a truck on the way to the dentist. Life isn't without risks. You stated yourself that that you don't have any immunity or comorbidity issues.

Catnippy wrote: ↑ So I see that quite a few people are planning to continue wearing their masks for a while. For a senior (no autoimmunity or comorbidities), would you say it's safe to go for a dental cleaning? It just seems so close contact with another person with my mouth open for 30 minutes at least - not quick like a haircut.

Seems like cases are rising after capacity limits are lifting, so pandemic is not over?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/c ... -1.6396491

Dentists have been working the entire time - I've been more than once in the last couple of years with no concerns. They're wearing full medical grade PPE - it's never been safer to go to the dentist.

Catnippy wrote: ↑ So I see that quite a few people are planning to continue wearing their masks for a while. For a senior (no autoimmunity or comorbidities), would you say it's safe to go for a dental cleaning? It just seems so close contact with another person with my mouth open for 30 minutes at least - not quick like a haircut.

Seems like cases are rising after capacity limits are lifting, so pandemic is not over?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/c ... -1.6396491

Most dentists are wearing N95s. The waiting room would be scarier. Just have the receptionist text you for your turn and wait outside.

Dentists are dressed to survive nuclear winter.

I've been going to my regular appointments throughout the pandemic.

As Mr. Raider mentioned, the waiting room would be the bigger worry.

6060842 wrote: ↑ You may get run over by a truck on the way to the dentist.

... or attacked by a Spitting Cobra or hit by an asteroid.

mr_raider wrote: ↑ . The waiting room would be scarier.

That's for sure. One can't tell what people are thinking, of course, but it has long been my view that about 20% of the population have little or no conscience. That's not even taking bizarre views or stupidity into account.

Dentists are wearing N95 masks and a shield and they are wearing a full disposable gown.
The rooms are cleaned/disinfected between each patient
When you go in, they make you do some kind of rinse to kill stuff
They take your temp and ask you questions
They also had to install special air purifier that quickly purify the air.

IMO it's safe to go get a cleaning.


https://www.rcdso.org/en-ca/rcdso-membe ... erson-care

Catnippy wrote: ↑ So I see that quite a few people are planning to continue wearing their masks for a while. For a senior (no autoimmunity or comorbidities), would you say it's safe to go for a dental cleaning? It just seems so close contact with another person with my mouth open for 30 minutes at least - not quick like a haircut.

Seems like cases are rising after capacity limits are lifting, so pandemic is not over?

The pandemic will never be over. As long as 1 person on the planet has it covid can spread exponentially. The best case is when they classify the virus as an endemic vs. a pandemic which won't happen for a few more years. I've had 2 cleanings over the pandemic and will have my 3rd this July. No biggie. They take all the precautions necessary. Hygienists and dentist come in wearing hazmat-like suits. Even had a filling done this past Feb. Again, no biggie.

Covid will never be eradicated

There is no cure

Everyone will eventually catch it. It is not if, but when. You can not dodge this bullet for the rest of your life.

The best you can hope for is a strain that is not severe. The best way to prevent serious illness is to be vaccinated.

Those that chose not to take the vaccine is fooling themselves thinking that the vaccine is worse than covid itself.

Gee wrote: ↑ Covid will never be eradicated

There is no cure

Everyone will eventually catch it. It is not if, but when. You can not dodge this bullet for the rest of your life.

The best you can hope for is a strain that is not severe. The best way to prevent serious illness is to be vaccinated.

Those that chose not to take the vaccine is fooling themselves thinking that the vaccine is worse than covid itself.

Likely it is an eventuality, but even vaccinated (likely milder symptoms), you don't want to get "long COVID" illness, Know several healthy individual triple vax got COVID and suffering from long covid type symptoms

You can wait until hospitalizations are going down or are in a downtrend if that makes you feel better.