Coronavirus Update - May 2020

by Dr. Mark Pasternak

 

Dear Friends,

First and foremost, I want to wish everyone well.  I hope all of you, your families, and friends are healthy and safe at this time.  Many of you have already received a call from one of our staff, and those who haven’t will get one shortly.  We just wanted to touch base with everyone in our practice family to see how you are doing and if there is anything we can help you with.  As for us, we do regular Zoom meetings to stay connected and stay up to date on the latest information, both scientific and political.  At this time, we don’t know when we will be allowed to work, but we are preparing diligently to make dentistry safe whenever that day comes.  In the meantime, we are open for emergencies and urgent care for any patient who needs it, whether they be our patient or not.  I can be reached by text or phone at 416-712-7001 or by email at dr.pasternak@etobicokedentalcare.com.

I want to share with you some of the scientific information we have to help you understand what the world is facing now.  I will do this in a two part series of email blasts.  The first will be on the subject of oral and general health as well as scientific information on the virus itself.

Many of us take for granted oral care.  It is readily available, delivered in a safe and hopefully caring environment, and often financially viable through group health plans.

What many don’t know is how connected oral health is to our general health.  There are many studies that show this, and anyone who is a diabetic undoubtedly knows how important proper oral care is to their general health.  This also applies to people with cardiovascular issues, as research is showing a trending link between periodontal disease and increases in cardiovascular complications.  This is especially troubling given the effects coronavirus has on the cardiovascular system, and all body systems really.

The chart below shows the importance of (healthy) teeth on many aspects of general health.

 

With regards to the virus itself, the phrase I keep coming back to is-

There is no time after covid only before and now.

 
Many of you have seen different terminology with regards to the virus so allow me to simplify:

SARS-CoV-2= the virus

COVID-19= the disease

Corona=the nickname

Transmission of the virus does not mean infection.

Droplet transmission- the virus is in the droplets; they travel directly from the respiratory tract of the infected individual to susceptible mucosal surfaces of the recipient.

Airborne transmission-the virus is in the air and not contained in droplets, which are considered to have partially evaporated.  They can travel long distances and remain infectious over time.

Airborne is much more dangerous, and the good news is it does not appear to be an airborne virus. Considerable research shows corona is droplet (aerosol) transmission

Inoculation=virus loads that enter susceptible areas. Consequences are dose dependant, which means that the higher the viral load the likelier is inoculation and potentially the worse is the disease.

Good news is that if we protect the areas where the virus can enter, we are pretty safe.

Nose and mouth are inoculation hot spots. Maybe eyes, but early research says no, but protecting eyes is prudent at this time.

Coronaviradae is a family of enveloped, single strand RNA viruses known since the 1930’s in chickens. Human corona virus was discovered in the 1960’s.  they are the cause of at least a third of influenza like diseases.  We are not facing a new super virus.  It is a known, well researched virus family. One has now developed into something very dangerous.

That’s it for now.  I hope you have a greater understanding of the virus itself.  In part 2 I will go into more detail on the particular risks in a dental office and the steps we can and are taking to reduce or eliminate that risk.  If you have questions, send me an email to dr.pasternak@etobicokedentalcare.com

Thanks and Stay Safe

 

Dr. Pasternak

 

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