INTERVIEW
It is not good to have a toothache during confinement. The dentists had to stop their activity, and for good reason: working in the mouth of a patient who, obviously, cannot be masked, presents a major risk of transmission of Covid-19. If guards were put in place during confinement, the conditions for resuming activity on May 11 remain unclear, notably due to the lack of protective equipment.
"The requisition forced us to stop exercising since we had to maintain the safety of patients and staff. As a result, we gave our masks to healthcare professionals who continued to work," said the microphone to Europe 1 Thomas Balbi, dental surgeon in Sainghin-en-Weppes in the North, and president of the Regional Union of Health Professionals of Dental Surgeons in Hauts-de-France.
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May 11, "we will need suitable equipment, a clear protocol"
If it is difficult to imagine a dental consultation that can respect the barrier gestures, dentists want to be able to assure their patients a daily quality of care identical to that before the health crisis. To do this, "we will need suitable equipment, a clear protocol and see under what conditions we can ensure the sustainability of care," insists Thomas Balbi. Professionals therefore await responses from the health authorities on these various points.
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Until then, "it is complicated, but not impossible to obtain an emergency appointment", wants to reassure Thomas Balbi. "The patient calls his usual office, if he can answer the phone, he will assess the degree of urgency and, if it is important, the patient will be referred to a duty office where he can be treated safely through a protocol established by the profession, "he said.