New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Health today issued guidelines for dental clinics and professionals amid lockdown 4.0 and in the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
According to the new guidelines, all dental clinics will remain closed in the containment zones. However, these clinics can continue to provide teleconsultation services to patients. Patients in the containment zones can seek ambulance services to travel to the nearby COVID Dental Facility.
In the Red Zone, emergency dental procedures can be performed.
With respect to orange and green zones, the dental clinics will function to provide dental consultation. However, these services will be restricted to emergency cases only, the ministry said.
“Due to the high risk associated with the examination of the oral cavity, oral cancer screening under National Cancer Screening program should be deferred until new policy/guidelines are issued,” the ministry said.
In addition to this, the Ministry has also issued a list of protocols to be followed by the dental clinics irrespective of zones.
Dental clinics should ensure ventilation and air circulation with natural air using exhaust blowers, avoid ceiling fans.
Frequent servicing of air conditioning systems has been recommended and clinics have been advised to use indoor portable air-cleaning systems with HEPA filter and UV light.
