Claire L. Ho, DDS General and Cosmetic Dentistry

Please welcome the newest member of the dental team!

Check out her amazing art at xiangzili.com!

https://m.youtube.com/watch

THANK YOU to all who posted their recommendation to Nextdoor!

https://www.foxnews.com//human-coronaviruses-inactivated-m

https://www.nysdental.org//press-release-by-american-denta

CDC Updates Coronavirus Guidance On Airborne Transmission The Washington Post (10/5, Sun, Guarino) reports the CDC acknowledged Monday that people can sometimes become infected with the novel coronavirus through airborne transmission, especially in enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation. The update to the agency Web page explaining how the virus spreads represents an official acknowledgment of growing evidence that under certain conditions, people farther than six fee...t apart can become infected by tiny droplets and particles that float in the air for minutes and hours, and that they play a role in the pandemic. Still, the CDC says the main way the virus spreads is through close contact with virus-containing droplets large and small that are emitted when someone coughs, sneezes, sings, talks or breathes. CNBC (10/5, Feuer) reports the CDC said, CDC’s recommendations remain the same based on existing science and after a thorough technical review of the guidance. ... People can protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19 by staying at least 6 feet away from others, wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth, washing their hands frequently, cleaning touched surfaces often and staying home when sick.

Is this happening to you?? Dentists See Increase In Stress-Related Oral Health Conditions, HPI Poll Finds The ADA News (9/28, Versaci) reports the ADA Health Policy Institute’s latest poll shows that a majority of participating dentists have seen a rise in stress-related oral health conditions in their patients since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the dentists polled the week of Sept. 21 reported increases in the prevalence of bruxism (59.4%), chipped and cracked teeth (53.4%), and temporomandibular disorder symptoms (53.4%) among their patients. In addition, more than a quarter saw a rise in other conditions, including 26.4% who reported an increase in caries and 29.7% who reported an increase in periodontal disease.

Permanent Damage May Occur With DIY Dentistry, ADA Says Noting the latest do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry trend involves TikTok users filing teeth down with nail files, Medical Daily (9/29, Durning) discusses the risks involved with this and other DIY dentistry trends and products. Medical Daily also reached out to the American Dental Association on the topic. Some DIY health trends on social media, like the current trend of filing your own teeth, can cause permanent damage,... the ADA wrote in an email. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your dentist about concerns you may have with your teeth, rather than trying out DIY treatments. Dentists examine each patient and provide customized treatments that help treat the root of the problem. The article adds that for those who need to see a dentist and are short on funds, lower-cost options are available, including seeking care at a dental school. See more

New Social Media Trend Involves TikTok Users Filing Down Uneven Teeth Insider (9/16, López) reports that as part of a new do-it-yourself (DIY) trend on TikTok, people are grinding their uneven teeth down with nail files and uploading the videos to the app. Dentists are cautioning against the trend, noting it can result in permanent damage to teeth. Insider adds that dentists can determine what treatment options are available to address uneven teeth.

Dental Visits Listed Among Appointments People Should Prioritize Right Now In a consumer-focused article, U.S. News & World Report (9/9, Howley) said, The coronavirus pandemic that took hold this past spring upended normal life for just about everyone, and for many people, that meant delaying health care appointments. Now that more is known about the virus and how it is transmitted and access to personal protective equipment has improved, the article stated that health care providers from across the whole health care spectrum are urging patients to reschedule appointments that may have been canceled or postponed. With this in mind, the article said any routine appointment that has been put off should be rescheduled as soon as possible, and dental visits are among appointments that might take priority.

USA Today: Dental Offices Have Precautions In Place USA Today (8/18, Aspegren) reports that going to the dentist looks a lot different than it did back in February, but new industry safety protocols led one dentist to say, The dental office is the safest environment to go. Yet, only one in five adults have visited a dentist office during the coronavirus pandemic, even though two in five adults said they’ve had dental issues since March. That’s according to a new survey... released Monday by Guardian Life, which also says one in four U.S. adults won’t be comfortable going to the dentist by the end of the year. Nonetheless, Dr. Nadeem Karimbux, dean of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, says that as dental offices reopen, it is important people return because a lot of people did have active disease beforehand...and many of them have gone untreated for a period of three to three and a half months. See more

CDA and ADA strongly disagree with the World Health Organization’s Aug. 3 guidance advising that routine non-essential oral health care, including oral health check-ups, dental cleanings and preventive care, be delayed. The WHO provides guidance worldwide, and its recent document Considerations for the provision of essential oral health services in the context of COVID-19 is not specific to California. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California... Department of Public Health and CDA Practice Support provide resources and tools to help dental teams practice safely during the pandemic. The American Dental Association released the following statement regarding WHO’s recommendation to delay routine care: The American Dental Association (ADA) respectfully yet strongly disagrees with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation to delay routine dental care in certain situations due to COVID-19. Oral health is integral to overall health. Dentistry is essential health care, states ADA President Chad P. Gehani, D.D.S. Dentistry is essential health care because of its role in evaluating, diagnosing, preventing or treating oral diseases, which can affect systemic health.

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you soon!

My team and I had a fantastic first day of seeing patients!