Teeth cleaning, routine dental care can resume in Pennsylvania - TribLIVE

kotortopo.blogspot.com

Pennsylvanians can now get their teeth cleaned again.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released an update to its dental health care guidance as part of the state’s phased covid-19 reopening plan. This new guidance allows dentists to provide routine care such as cleanings.

“We can go back to business as usual,” said Steven C. Levine, owner of a dental practice in Penn Center in Wilkins. “It means all those people that I have done root canals on can now come back and have the crown done. We couldn’t do that before June 3.”

Pittsburgh oral surgeon Eric Smiga summed up his reaction to the news with one word: relief.

“Relief for my colleagues, relief for the public that is going to go back to some routine care so that we don’t have a different sort of pandemic years later with poor dental care that can lead to other medical health concerns,” Smiga said. “Routine cleanings are important. They are a necessity.

“I think the general feeling among dentists in the state is, ‘It’s about time. Finally, we can get back to work and take care of the public.’ ”

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said dentists should prioritize dental care for the most vulnerable patients.

“This latest update provides dentists the opportunity to resume non-emergency dental care, including routine care, if they can provide it safely,” the health secretary said.

It means that if personal protective equipment is in short supply, dentists must treat emergency cases first and postpone elective procedures.

Some dentists have been critical of the Department of Health, saying it has provided little help to dentists who are trying to make sure they have enough personal protective equipment to keep everyone safe.

Smiga said Pennsylvania should put dentists on the list of professionals that are able to obtain PPE through the state.

“My practice has been successful through some third parties in obtaining sufficient numbers of N-95 masks. But there is still a shortage of gowns in the region,” Smiga said. “We’re not on that first responder list, so we have to find it through third parties. It’s literally like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a friend who knows this company. Call them.’ ”

Meanwhile, dentists like Steven Levine are excited to be able to start generating income again.

“I feared for the business of dentistry,” Steven C. Levine said. “It’s very expensive to run a dental office. Without an income to take care of payroll and rent, the business could go under. So, it’s a huge sigh of relief for us dentists in Western Pennsylvania.”

It’s also good news for those employed by dentists. Steven C. Levine said he’s excited to be able to bring staff members such as dental assistants and hygienists back to work.

“In my office, everybody without exception was just waiting to come back. I have an exceptional office staff and not one of them has said, ‘I don’t want to come back.’ So, we’re going to start scheduling cleanings again,” he said.

Paul Guggenheimer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-226-7706 or pguggenheimer@triblive.com.

Categories: Coronavirus | Local | Allegheny