The demand for endodontic care during the Covid-19 pandemic presents vitally important challenges for many in dentistry. Because of the onset of the pandemic over the last few years, many endodontists have had to adjust their protocols when providing treatment. When it comes to patient management, treatment recommendations, and viral transmission risks, many aspects of our area of dental care have changed greatly. Below, we’ll be outlining some of those changes in greater detail and how reducing the risk of virus spread has ultimately changed the way we perform treatments for everyone.
The Recent Changes in General Endodontic Protocols
Providing endodontic care during the pandemic has entailed some protocol changes that reduce the risk of viral transmissions among patients, staff members, and dentists. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, these protocol changes include:
- Teledentistry Use: For patients requiring endodontic care, endodontic practices have begun implementing teledentistry methods of communication to reduce unnecessary visits.
- Reduced Treatment Times: Treatment times for patients have also significantly decreased. Hence many treatments have to be adapted to accommodate for the pressure placed by the pandemic.
- Same Day Treatments: Same-day treatments have become more viable than ever, and many endodontists have had to adjust treatment techniques to provide this service.
- Reduced Aerosol/Air Droplet Spread: Wearing masks, consistent sanitization procedures, and regulating patient output have become a more normalized activity in endodontic practices.
By doing these activities, many endodontists have helped safeguard patients, their staff members, and themselves. As a result, these protocols may become more normalized procedures even beyond the pandemic.
