WHAT DOES THE COVID19 PANDEMIC ENTAILS TO THE DENTAL INDUSTRY AND THE FUTURE OF DENTISTRY IN GENERAL
By Romeo G. Dungca, Junior, DMD, RN
8 August 2021
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Understanding what the future holds, one has to look back in history - for in tracing back one’s steps, he may find the possible solution to a problem just lurking behind.
“We are not makers of history, we are made by history.”- Martin Luther King
Roughly a year and a half into the pandemic, if not all are aware, we are in the COVID-19 era, (An era pertains to a memorable or important date or event especially one that begins a new period in the history of a person, according to Merriam Webster), and the global status quo have gradually turned upside-down. What the world has been engaging to prior this health menace has slowly inverted and several if not most industries had to stop its normal operations, except of course the healthcare industry. Tho’ it faced a multitude of difficulties, lapses, failures and hopefully lessons along the way.
Evolution has greatly affected human existence since the dawn of man in all probability, humans and other living things evolve, even the minutest microorganisms that the naked eye cannot see, specifically microbes and viruses! The last recorded pandemic was more than a century ago, in the 1800’s - the 19th Century, infamously known as the Spanish flu, which wreaked havoc in human history and disdainfully consumed an estimated 100 Million souls in the process. Fortunately, on one hand, with the advent of antibiotics discovery, the mortality went down and completely eradicated the disease. On the other hand, what’s pretty interesting, tho’ there are limited written accounts to prove it, health protocols such as wearing face masks (tho’ I’m not quite certain if face masks with 99% filtration rate like the N95s and KN95s that we have nowadays were available at that time), quarantine and physical distancing did its purpose way back.
But, as a famous saying goes, “history repeats itself” - at the start of a new decade, year 2020, the 22nd century, a new health foil has emerged and is currently causing surge after surge of respiratory-related disease which is dreadfully taking precious lives on a global scale. A novel coronavirus which emanated from China, was initially thought to be a mere endemic flu variant turned out to be highly transmissible than the H1N1, SARS and MERSCOV all combined. This caused a heightened security alert among regions in Asia and Europe because it was inflicting the Asian region by surprisingly increasing trend, it even crossed the borders of the Philippines wherein the first recorded death outside China was recorded. 3 months after it was detected and caused alarm to other regions of the world, not just Asia but America and Europe, the WHO finally broke its silence and announced that the novel coronovirus is named SARS-COV2 causing probably the most dreaded disease in history coined as COVID19 and after a while it was declared a PANDEMIC!
Across diverse nations, cultures and traditions, the pandemic scare has left the whole world in utter perverse - it challenged the global status quo and almost put the entire globe into the brink of collapse! Not to mention, it totally shut down the economic and financial operations of most, if not all, countries for more than a month! While most industries were put into a halt - from high-end corporate businesses and enormous infrastructure to work from home settings; from the luxurious movie industry and lavish sports world to sudden lock-in taping and “bubble” set ups; from the hustle and bustle of everyday transportation congestion to a total car-less roads along the usual busy streets in the metro; from fine dinning restaurants and party clubs to a shift to food delivery services and mere alfresco; from face to face classes to online distance learning and modules - solely one industry was left operating, the Medical and allied services industry, albeit, on meager and dwindling resources, continue to serve its purpose with pure commitment and abounding sacrifice. Most countries were not pandemic-ready, only a handful were, and surprisingly the richest and most powerful nation on the face of the Earth wasn’t 100% prepared for an imminent healthcare collapse in human history - its financial capital even became the epicenter of fatality and mortality!
Nevertheless, through a concerted effort of science-based research and authentic political will, gradually Uncle Sam prevailed and turned over their ordeal into an impossible achievement. This somehow was achieved by the emergence of good leadership. Conversely, speaking of leadership, health experts from around the world, most especially the WHO, ironically have differing opinions and delayed pronouncements when it comes to the health protocols to be implemented on common people, meaning the masses who have no in-depth understanding of the severity of such a respiratory disease with a worldwide scale. Ergo, a pandemic scare had slowly emerged from countless irresponsible fake news accounts that went viral over various social media platforms.
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Science coupled with proven research should still be the prime basis of people when it comes to pertinent information on health protocols, medications and associated drug interactions, interpretation of the positivity rates and other epidemiological statistics. Unfortunately, even if we are in the 22nd century and the millennial age, there are still a multitude of individuals who believe in hoax and fallacies with what’s happening around the globe. There are some group of people known as “anti-vax groups” that are well saturated in every corner of the world whose main ideal is to revoke and rebuke the advantages of vaccines and expose the adverse effects, not taking into consideration the fact that the advantages still outweigh the risks considering only an insignificant fraction experience untoward effects. This they do even with the widely-accepted vaccines that have eradicated well-known diseases associated with previous historical outbreaks like the bubonic plaque, tuberculosis, small pox, measles among others.
Thankfully, with the advent of high-quality research and notably Nobel Prize winning scientists, several potent with high efficacy rate vaccines were promptly developed, clinically-tested and manufactured for global use with “emergency use authorization” from the US FDA, FDA of other countries, not to mention recommendations from university -and hospital-based researchers and scientists. Roughly a year since the pandemic, several pharmaceutical giants have started with their clinical trials claiming efficacy against the dreaded novel coronavirus. Now, with merely six months since the start of vaccine inoculations, primarily in the USA, Israel, UK, and some European countries, the race to herd immunity is getting nearer everyday.
Medical, paramedical and other allied health professionals, on one hand, who are considered as the new normal heroes, are in fact not merely the front liners but also the last line of defense in this battle against the unseen enemy! Before COVID19 vaccines were developed, there were a handful of medical frontliners who have met their untimely demise fighting and sacrificing in the name of their professional oath to serve humanity.
Clearly, a health foil of such a global magnitude has left the entire medical profession in awe and utter startle! Not all countries, even the USA was ever prepared to face such an ordeal. Thousands and thousands of lay people had been victims, while hundreds and hundreds of healthcare professionals had sacrificed in order to save other souls yet lose their own precious lives in the process.
On the other hand, probably one of the most neglected allied health professionals are my dear colleagues in the Dental profession. No one, well possibly not all but most never, even bothered during the first wave of the pandemic ask us -- where are we in this battle? How’s the fate of the experts in the complex stomatognathic system doing? When in fact the source or vector of the spread of the disease is via respiratory droplets during inhalation and exhalation, mainly through the nose and mouth, which is undoubtedly the area of the human body where Dentists are mainly exposed most of the time.
Ironically, the oral care experts, who are at most risk of exposure were somehow sidelined from the picture. It’s as if the diseases associated with oral and dental problems will be gone during these trying times. While most hospitals are open to cater the needs of those ill- stricken by COVID or even non-COVID infirmity, private dental clinics, even public health dental centers were forced to go on indefinite cessation of operations. The industry had to stop and review its safety protocols and guidelines for an extremely high level of precautionary measures. For more than a couple of months, at least here in the Philippines, we had to slowly draft a stricter disinfection protocols and procure necessary equipment to make our offices and clinics conducive and ready to fight of possible infections brought by probable asymptomatic patients. Not to mention, alter the physical set up of our clinical infirmary to somehow promote recommended air exchanges in between operatories and other essential parts of each clinic.
In each of the branches of Urban Smiles Dental Clinic, which by the way are strategically situated across the Metro, we carefully planned and drafted the physical clinic set up rearrangement, that is from temporary decluttering and making the lobby areas promote physical distancing among our clients while waiting inside, to permanently removing all unnecessary materials like reading materials, decors and wrapping our sofas with cling wraps. Not discounting the fact, that only a limited number of patients are allowed to get inside. This was resolved by making our prompt appointment system both efficient and entirely online, which was 100% hassle-free. Continuous air flow is also our main concern, since most branches are located inside malls with limited ventilation system, we procured state-of-the-art air purifiers with HEPA filters to achieve the ideal air exchange within the clinic premises.
Likewise, we conduct regular and routine disinfection of the entire clinic. We see to it that each branch has a safe and cozy ambiance and relaxing feel for every patient who comes inside. True to the IATF guidelines, we make sure that all individuals who come inside are properly documented for contact tracing, we diligently interview all patients and compile their health declaration forms every time they visit for their appointments. We perform the necessary temperature checks using our thermal scanners and we likewise get the oxygen saturation of everyone going inside our clinics even our staff and guests. Through a thorough staff training and strict supervision from the chief of clinics and branch heads, all our staff are trained to ensure that all persons have within normal limit baseline vital signs and properly interviewed before they are ushered into our clinic premises.
Even way before saliva RT-PCR and Anitgen test kits were available in the market, we conduct rapid antibody tests periodically to our personnel and the whole dental team to ensure that everyone are healthy and COVID-free. We see to it that all employees who report for work on a daily basis regularly monitor themselves for COVID-related symptoms and advise them to go into isolation and assist them in having RT-PCR testing within the window period. Nowadays, we conduct a bi-monthly anitgen swab testing to all our staff to make sure that everyone is fit to go on duty without the worry of having contracted the virus - but of course, everybody knows their responsibility of strictly following the minimum health protocols as mandated by the IATF for emerging infectious diseases.
Come March of 2021, almost after a year into the pandemic, although a bit delayed, when the vaccine jabs had officially started its roll out, as part of the A1 category for the vaccination priority list; most of our Dentists, myself included, and some dental assistants queued up and were among the first ones inoculated. It is part and parcel of our commitment in offering the highest level of optimum oral care to our beloved patients. After 5 months, our whole dental team is around 80 to 90% fully vaccinated, some have gotten their scheduled jabs, while there are some who are still undecided - and the management totally respect their individual decisions.
Furthermore, this pandemic has put not just our industry but our beloved profession as well into a challenging position. Since, universities have ceased its face to face medium of instructions, it has put on hold the successful graduation of dental students for more than a year, not to mention it has put the board exam on hold indefinitely, as an effect, it has caused a dwindling in the number of applications from fresh graduates and board passers. It has also stopped significant post graduate training programs from producing clinically-equipped and competent clinicians. Yet, there are study groups who conduct online specialized training or seminars in specialized fields like Orthodontics, Surgery, Implants, Cosmetics among others, and we make sure that some of our associates undergo such essential CPE’s (Continuing Professional Education) in order for us to stay true to our commitment of giving our dear patients “a lifetime of healthy smiles.”
Significantly, the new normal may have drastically changed the status quo; albeit, difficult it may seem, this pandemic has definitely caused several milestones in our modern world. When we think that the only thing that can gravely cause change is technology, then we all were mistaken! Again, the cliche “history repeats itself” becomes more significant and will never be obsolete. The big question is - what can the COVID ERA bring to humanity? Who knows, only God knows. Until when will this last? We could only surmise that it will end sooner than we think - personally I wish I could wake up one day, turn on the tv and hear from a news channel that the world have achieved its herd immunity or better the coronavirus went extinct, those kinds of scenarios. However, until that faithful day comes, we must live with the virus for now, and hope for the best in the morrow.
At the end of the day, i do believe that this era that has befallen us, has been an opportunity for introspection and retrospection - look at oneself inwards and backwards, because somehow it has changed my perspective of life in general - on making priorities clear, improving relationship with my family, spending more quality time with love ones “at least virtually for now”, valuing hard work, continuous learning, joy in giving, never losing hope, fighting head on with challenges and keeping the faith,
About the Author
Dr. Romeo G. Dungca, Junior is a Dentist by profession. He is the Chief of Clinics of Urban Smiles, the
fastest growing Dental chain in the metro. He is likewise a RN that’s why together with the big bosses
of USDC, who are likewise Nurses among their several finished degrees, Doc Roms, as he is fondly
called, have drafted the clinic’s safety protocols that are somehow patterned in Hospitals with strict
guidelines on contact and airborne protocols, of course with strict adherence to the PDA and PCOMS
COVID19 safety protocols and guidelines of 2020. Doc Roms is married to Ms. Arlene, a Public Health
Nurse, they have a lovely 10-year old daughter, Arianna Revekah. These two lovely gals are the inspiration of Doc Roms in everything that he do.
He is a specialist in functional Orthodontics. Among his passions, aside from creating beautiful smiles,
are reading, running, biking, road trips, travelling, watching Netflix and drinking coffee. He used to be
a choir member In a religious organization at Santo Domingo parish where he met his wife. He is an
occasional writer/blogger on his personal blogger.com account where he keeps some of his treasured
write ups, poems and blogs. He started this blog page when he was working in East Africa in 2015
as a Dentist. If you wish to follow and continue on reading his blogs, here’s the link:
https://pinoydentistabroadmemoirs.blogspot.com
