Washington dentist tests patients for COVID-19 before treating

David Baker, DDS, of Implant and Periodontal Clinic in Bellingham, Wash., has patients undergo a COVID-19 test before they are treated for emergency care, according to the Bellingham Herald.

Dr. Baker began testing patients April 8. Swabs are taken from the clinic to the Northwest Laboratory, which is two doors down from Dr. Baker's practice. Turnaround time for test results is roughly 24 hours, but can be as fast as six hours.

Previously, Dr. Baker had to use a hammer and chisel to remove teeth if they broke during an extraction because the drill sends small droplets into the air from patients.

"Almost all dental procedures us a dental drill, which causes significant aerosol into the air and particulates, which may linger in the air for some time," Dr. Baker told the Herald.

In the future, Dr. Baker says more testing will be needed for dentists to return to work when social distancing restrictions relax. Dr. Baker currently is wearing personal protective gear when treating patients.

"We are doing everything we can, but it's still not enough, even with N95 masks, considering the potential exposure risk that a dental team encounters," Dr. Baker said. "Most dentists are simply closed due to the virus. In the future, I envision a combination of patient testing along with modified PPE. Dentistry will be a different experience moving forward."

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