The New Norm: Learning

to Live with the

microscopic virus
DR SUMANT MISHRA
PAEDIATRIC DENTIST MINISTRY OF HEALTH, KUWAIT
Kuwait Unlocking: Stages

5 UNLOCKING STAGES, 3 WEEKS

INTERVAL, DEPENDING ON THE PATTERN
OF SPREAD OF COIVD-19
 THE NEW NORMS: Min. of Health (with emphasis on Dental Protocols),
Kuwait

RISKS VERSUS BENEFITS

A). ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

B). DENTAL FACILITY SET UP RECOMMENDATIONS

C). WORK PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS

 ADMINISTRATIVE
RECOMMENDATIONS
 Infection control guidelines
 Self-monitor of staff for symptoms
 Home stay of staff/quarantine & no penalty
 Telephone communication with patients: Enquire about covid-19 symptoms & inform about
the need to screen again upon arrival, history of travel, no companions unless a child/special
needs case/all pts. to be wearing a face mask to enter the facility.
 Implementing Universal source control: everyone (Staff, Patients, Companions wearing cloth
face covering/mask, regardless of symptoms
 Maximum number of pts. treated safely
 Waiting time & the number of pts. waiting be minimized.
 Conventional meetings be replaced with remote meetings.
 Limited staff gatherings in staff lounge: re-enforce social distancing
 Record of PPE inventory & PPE utilization rate
DENTAL FACILITY SET UP RECOMMENDATIONS
 Entry/Exit points delineated
 Triage station set up
 Awareness signs/posters
 Easy accessibility of Soaps and alcohol-based sanitizers, tissues, closed bins
 Physical barriers at reception: glass/plastic windows at reception.
 Waiting room chairs kept at least 2 meters apart
 Clear off the waiting areas from toys, magazines etc.
 Maintain the cross-ventilation of the waiting rooms/staff lounge/clinics
 Chairs in the waiting rooms, floorings, walls, reception counters and frequently touched surfaces (light
switches, door handles & stair railings) should be frequently cleaned with chlorine solution.
 Clinical setting should provide for easy accessibility of supplies & instruments needed for dental
procedures. Rest should be in closed drawers.
 Appropriate maintenance and repairs of dental equipments
 WORK PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS
 Strict adherence to Hand Hygiene Etiquettes
 Trained on the correct way and sequence of donning and doffing PPE
 Surgical mask, eye protection (goggles or a full-face shield), gown/protective clothing, head cover and gloves
(procedures: splashing/splattering of blood/other body fluids)
 Minimally invasive/atraumatic restorative techniques (hand instruments only) should be adapted if possible
 Avoid aerosol-generating procedures whenever possible by limiting the use of dental handpieces and the
air/water syringe. If these procedures necessary, use : N95 respirator, Four0handed dentistry, High Evacuation
Suction, Dental Rubber Dam, Minimize the number of staff during the procedure
 Pre-procedural mouth rinse??
 Pts. : face-mask post-procedure
 Pts. : inform if develops symptoms/diagnosed with covid-19 within 2 days following the appointment.
 Consistent and correct environmental cleaning & disinfection procedures
 15-20 min waiting time after the procedure
 Routine Cleaning, Disinfection, & Sterilization protocols to be followed.
TERIMA KASIH
THANKING YOU