COVID-19 Information for Dental Patients

According to the WHO, the main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing or has other symptoms such as fever or tiredness, loss of sense of smell or taste, or loss of appetite. However, many people with the disease experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true in the early stages of the disease; it is possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, a mild cough and does not feel ill.

Some reports have indicated that people with no symptoms can transmit the virus; it is not yet known how often it happens. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.

According to the WHO, people can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Other people can catch COVID-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus. The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) recommends keeping two meters (six feet) away from one another to help stop the spread of COVID-19. These droplets can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People can become infected by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. This is why it is important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand rub.

The WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings here.

Dental patients who have the following symptoms or respiratory illness should not go to the dentist:

• Fever, cough, loss of sense of smell or taste, loss of appetite, or acute respiratory illness (with or without pneumonia)
  OR
• Traveled outside of Canada within 14 days prior to onset of symptoms
  OR
• Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
  OR
• Other potentially relevant exposure such as close contact with someone who was ill and had traveled outside of Canada in the 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

If you meet any of the criteria above, please contact your dentist to be assessed by phone and please contact HealthlinkBC at 8-1-1 to be assessed for testing, and/or call ahead to your primary health care provide or walk-in clinic and arrange for assessment by medical staff.

On November 19, the Provincial Health Officer ordered that masks are required for everyone in all public indoor settings and workplaces. People who cannot wear a mask or who cannot put on or remove a mask on their own are exempt.

With the high level of community spread now, masks are a required part of infection prevention and control.

Unless exempt, patients should wear a non-medical grade, three-layer mask, or cloth mask with a filter insert. Dental offices will most likely require patients to wear a mask when entering or exiting the dental office.

BCCDC offers a downloadable information sheet on different types of masks as well as updated information on the wearing, cleaning and disposing of masks here.