Dentistry France emergency care telecommunication

Iveta Ramonaite, DTI

Mon. 27. April 2020

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LEIPZIG, Germany: Since 14 March, France has been under COVID-19 Level 3 restrictions, including the halting of all non-essential services. To flatten the SARS-CoV-2 infection curve and ensure the safety of dental professionals, staff and patients, dental surgeries in France remain closed, and dental surgeons are only available to answer any possible questions that patients may have by phone or email, other than emergency treatment.

In an interview with Dental Tribune France, Dr Yassine Harichane, a graduate of the dental faculty of Paris Descartes University, said that like many other dentists, he too is only providing emergency dental care, mainly on the phone. Commenting on the situation, he noted that the impact of COVID-19 for dental companies and the profession as a whole will be profound once operations resume and that the consequences will be twofold. Owing to business interruptions, many companies will face financial difficulties and trouble obtaining materials. Additionally, there will be a change in the relationship between dentists and patients as a result of limited physical contact and the constant fear of being infected.

French Dental Association’s response

The coronavirus pandemic has created substantial challenges for dental professionals, and many healthcare workers are being overloaded with information. It has become difficult to differentiate real news and facts from speculation in order to decide how best to implement cross-contamination measures in treating dental patients. To help answer some of the questions dentists may have, the French Dental Association has created a question and answer section on its website as well as Facebook and YouTube pages that deals with health, clinical, financial and social issues.

In a broadcast on 24 March, Dr Serge Fournier, president of the Ordre national des chirurgiens-dentistes (national order of dental surgeons), stated that some dental professionals have chosen to continue their dental activities, ignoring the government’s decision to close all dental clinics. Fournier stated that he strongly opposes such behaviour, since it puts the community and the dentists at risk. Consequently, the organisation has decided to sanction practices that continue to operate their businesses normally.

The COVID-19 questions and answers on the French Dental Association website can be found here.

Busier than ever?

Speaking to Dental Tribune International (DTI), Dr Laurence Bury, a dentist and scientific editor at Dental Tribune France, said that, despite the pandemic, she is staying busy. “I go to my office every morning, even on Saturdays and Sundays, where I listen and reply to all the messages and emails and send prescriptions. I’m also in contact with three nursing homes around my office and am fixing their broken dentures and looking at the photographs sent by the nurses to understand the gravity of their symptoms.”

“Four times a week, I see some patients from the neighbourhood for pulpitis and then I wear two surgical masks to protect myself and put a dental dam over the tooth being treated. Patients come in, wash their hands and rinse their mouths, and then I start working,” she continued.

Bury also told DTI that she had found a sensible solution for covering her body while working. She uses a travel raincoat, which is reusable and can be disinfected.

When dental activity resumes, hopefully on 11 May, when the lockdown restrictions are to be lifted, Bury said that she will manage one patient at a time and allow 15-minute breaks between patients to be able to sterilise the office.