The Future of Our Profession
Being one who recently got laid-off (hopefully temporarily) from their clinical job due to the COVID-19 pandemic has me thinking about the future of my profession. When I graduated dental hygiene school in 2008, the economy was right in the middle of the housing crisis. At the time I honestly didn’t even give the economy a thought. I was young and hopeful. I worked hard to make myself marketable and found 3 different jobs to fill my schedule from M-F. This current situation is a little different than way back when.
As I sit at home now reading all about this pandemic, a few things stand out to me about the future of my profession.
1. We will go back to work. We will however, economically be in a situation where some patients have lost jobs and insurance plans, and won't be able to afford treatment. Is there still a way to take care of these patients during this crisis?
2. While back at work we will once again fill our schedules but COVID-19 will NOT be gone. It will never fully go away. The hope is that in 12-18 months a vaccine will come out to help prevent illness. I also hope that we find an antiviral for COVID-19 that is curative, and possibly prophylactic, but those things take time.
3. So after we do lower the curve and head back to work for the next 12-18 months, how do we protect ourselves and our patients? Below are a few changes that will need to be implemented. Note that I recognize that this will be ever changing as new guidelines come out.
Pre-screening over the phone about travel, and recent illness.
Taking of the temperature before the patient enters the clinic. (As COVID-19 tests become more readily available, we may need to screen patients before they even come into the building.)
Once the patient is cleared for treatment, they head right back to the operatory and skip the waiting room.
They will do a pre-procedural 1% hydrogen peroxide rinse for 60 seconds. (That’s half water half hydrogen peroxide)
We will proceed with treatment trying to reduce aerosols as much as possible. That means using high volume suction during polishing and power-driven scaler use. Consider investing a high volume suction attachment like the Nu Bird Suctioning mirror.
N-95 masks for us to use.
All proper PPE. Do you remember all the lab coats and precautions they made you take in hygiene school? There shall be no more bare arms folks. This may also include a face shield and changing your scrubs before you leave the office.
WHAT OTHER CHANGES DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE?
Be sure to read the Clinicians Report article that discusses some things we need to be doing in office as well, such as disinfection protocols. HERE
I know that the dental bigwigs will be coming out with a great list of MUST HAVES before we can all head back to work so start preparing for more changes. Love you all and wish you the best on this unique journey. We are #dentalhygienestrong!