03/06/2020
Dear friends and patients
I urge you to be patient regarding routine dental treatment at present.
It doesn't matter if certain practices disregard the regulations. We are taking every precaution possible to safeguard everyone.
This is taken from the South African Dental Association communique:
Economically, Oral Health Care (OHC) is released to do most of the spectrum of work as related to their function and speciality, as long as HVE, rubber dam and PPE are used correctly or if applicable. However this restriction lowering to level 3 from June 1 2020, as announced by the president, has significant implications. The viral spread is expected to be high, to very high dependant on location throughout South Africa in the month or two ahead. High mortality is expected.
The spread of SARS CoV- 2 virus will be common amongst our population and thus our patients. Asymptomatic carriers, as well as infected cases not yet symptomatic, will be encountered on an ever-increasing basis over this period. SADA has been pre-emptive with the release of a clinical protocol document to combat the spread of the virus. Strict adherence to patient triage, practice management as well as the correct management of patient flows would make it possible for the OHC worker to be economically viable in these very trying times, but not to the level before COVID-19. The emphasis will and must be on personal protection against a high viral load that could be damaging or fatal. Never has the correct PPE as well as the correct use thereof been so important to be able to practise safely.
The relaxation of the levels of restrictions however, should not be used to indicate safety especially not in executing high-risk procedures. In fact, there is not much difference between level 5 in terms of virus spread; and we must be vigilant in ensuring safety and minimizing further spread. Therefore, we need to tread carefully and do what is pro-life and ethical. The spreading rate has not abated; it is about to get worse very fast as we are about to battle our worse interaction with SARS-CoV-2.
Dr David Sheinbar
BDS (WITS) PDD (STELL)
Annex 116 Milnerton Mediclinic
Racecourse Rd Milnerton
Western Cape
South Africa
Ph: (021) 551 6560
Fax: (021) 551 6904
Email: [email protected]
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