key: cord-289055-6qndq7m0
authors: Suh, Michael
title: Dental and medical collaboration during COVID‐19
date: 2020-06-25
journal: J Dent Educ
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.12251
sha: 
doc_id: 289055
cord_uid: 6qndq7m0

nan

resources to be available for critically ill patients rather than nonurgent dental patients who may present physically or by telephone consult. I reached out to my medical colleagues to see how I could assist during this COVID crisis. My ultimate goal is to foster collaboration between medicine and dentistry, which has been a priority of interprofessional education.

In hopes of properly managing dental patients who first contact them via emergency services, the medical residents requested a presentation on triaging dental emergencies and how to make appropriate dental referrals when necessary. Referencing the "American Dental Association COVID-19 Practice Resources," I developed a Pow-erPoint presentation that detailed the causes of various dental emergencies and where to refer these patients: general dentist, oral surgeon, or the emergency room if in fact a life-threatening situation had developed. Discussion points ranged from the etiology of decay, including proper oral hygiene; impact of diet on oral health; and infection with or without life-threatening cellulitis. I presented this PowerPoint to 30 medical residents through Zoom teleconferencing (see Figures 1-4) .

Overall, the entire team involved felt that this presentation was a success. The medical residents expressed genuine interest by inquiring not only about dental emergencies, but also about topics such as prevention, optimal dietary habits, and dental access to care. Through this application, the medical team has decided to institute more dental-focused questions and oral hygiene education into their well-checks, as well as requiring dental referrals. This is especially critical for children, who should establish a dental home by 1 year of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. By collaborating more with medicine through opportunities such as the one discussed, dentistry can reinforce its importance in overall patient health. Several avenues where dentists can reach out to our medical colleagues and collaborate include university and hospital-based residencies, emergency rooms, private practices, or local and national medical associations. By advocating for this partnership with medicine and marching these small steps, we will eventually cement our bond and take giant strides towards providing healthier, comprehensive patient care.

How to cite this article: Suh M. Dental and medical collaboration during COVID-19