Mehul Gadhia, DMD joined Charlotte, North Carolina’s PerioCare in 2006. Besides being a periodontist, Mehul Gadhia, DMD is also a member of both local and national professional organizations, such as the North Carolina Society of Periodontists and the American Dental Association (ADA).
ADA has provided members, as well as the general public, with comprehensive information regarding the impact of the coronavirus on visits to the dentist’s office, including common questions dentists should pose to patients.
In regards to questioning a patient about a potential case of COVID-19, dentists should begin with the typical screening questions and updates to a patient’s medical history, which should be made prior to each appointment. Targeted questions might include whether the patient has traveled internationally within the previous two weeks or has interacted in any way with a person diagnosed or potentially carrying the virus. Dentists can also ask about the presence of common symptoms, including a dry cough and shortness of breath. A “yes” to any of these questions should prompt dental professionals to encourage patients to speak to their primary physician prior to confirming a dental checkup.
Medical professionals must be aware that the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits doctors to disclose protected health information to public health officials during public health emergencies. Any patient that presents signs of the virus should be brought to the attention of local and state health departments.
In the event that a patient with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is in need of critical dental treatment, dental professionals must collaborate closely with the patient’s primary physician. Minimizing the likelihood of the disease spreading should be the chief concern of those involved, though the most effective methods of achieving this will change on a case by case basis. It is likely that such dental procedures would need to be carried out in a hospital setting or comparable medical facility, as most dental offices are not outfitted for transmission-based precautions.
Mehul Gadhia 