Health Ministry of Artsakh Urges Dentists to Accept Patients Only in Cases of Urgent Need

The Health Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh has urged all medical institutions offering dental services to postpone all types of planned visits for patients for a preliminary period of one month and to only serve cases requiring urgent and immediate medical assistance. This was reported to Armenpress by the Health Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh.

“At the same time, considering the possible high risk of spreading the coronavirus during the provision of dental services, we inform that the dentist must be able to identify a COVID-19 positive patient based on the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh under Order No. 82-A dated March 11, 2020. Dental medical assistance is not indicated for patients with COVID-19, except in acute and emergency cases. In such situations, when a patient in the active stage of the disease seeks dental care, the dentist must be able to quickly identify the COVID-19 positive patient, immediately organize isolation measures, and notify the relevant authorities. While providing dental medical assistance, it is recommended to carry out hygienic hand treatment before the patient’s examination and the planned intervention, as well as after the patient’s examination and the intervention,” stated the Health Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh.

The ministry recommends the use of all personal protective equipment, including glasses, masks, gloves, medical masks, and single-use protective clothing. Before any dental intervention, it is advised to suggest to the patient to rinse their mouth with a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution.

“The use of rubber dams during dental procedures significantly reduces the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, as it decreases the generation of aerosolized droplets contaminated with saliva and blood. In all cases where it is not possible to use a rubber dam during work, it is recommended to use mechanical tools to minimize aerosol generation during removal,” the ministry added.