A child undergoes a dental procedure in Kotzebue, Alaska, April 15, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo) NEW YORK - You should delay your routine dental cleaning until the coronavirus pandemic eases, according to new guidance from the World Health Organization.
Dentists, hygienists, and other oral care providers have a heightened risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing it to patients because "they are in close contact with their patients' mouths, use spray-generating equipment that produces airborne particles, [and] are exposed to saliva, blood and body fluids," WHO said."WHO advises that routine non-essential oral health care—such as check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care—be delayed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19.