Swine flu and my dentist...

[Javaman]

So I just got back from my dentist located in San Antonio.

Upon leaving I asked her if she and the other dentists were given any special instructions regarding the swine flu.

She gave me a very grim nod. Now, you have to know this dentist, she is always upbeat, always smiling, always has a great attitude. But when I mentioned the swine flu, her whole demeanor changed.

I asked her about surgical masks. She said well, the over the counter type do basically nothing. Then I asked, "well, what about the kind doctors use?" She shook her head and said, "same with those. It's mostly a psychological effect. The flu virus is very small, it will pass through the masks without even noticing". On edit: What does work is the respirator type masks that the CDC uses in investigations.

Now my dentist is an intern about to graduate from the UT school of dentistry. And the patients they handle by and large are from the lower scale of the economic ladder. Some are basically homeless and have colossally bad dental issues, let alone health and hygiene issues.

She went on to tell me that they had gotten a major briefing from US dept of health and human services regarding precautions, but she also stated, the given the nature of the flu, it's basic Bio 101 regarding the face mask issue.

I thought that was interesting and thought to pass it on to all of you.

[Shell Beau]

1. I always wonder how all of the doctors protect themselves.

Washing hands can only do so much you know.

[Javaman]

3. I think about that too.

but aside from washing hands, also don't touch your hands to your face. Especially to the eyes, mouth and inside of nose.

no picking, no biting, no rubbing.

[Dora]

2. Face masks will prevent the touching of nose and mouth.

People frequently touch their faces, and wearing a face mask will prevent that.

[Javaman]

4. Again, it won't stop the virus. it can still pass through the mask. nt

[kestrel91316]

10. Viruses cannot move anywhere on their own. Their require our help,

in this case in the form of sneezing, coughing, and FOMITES (hands and objects touched by hands).

[Toucano]

19. Not this virus!

It has stubby little pig legs, chicken wings and a curly little tail!

;)

[mike_c]

5. there's more to the story than she's telling....

Yes, she's right about virons passing right through surgical masks. But that's a bit of a red herring. Most virons are not just floating around in the air, and when they do, they don't remain viable for long (although I don't have any specific data for this flu variant, but in general, viral particles don't last long exposed to sunlight and oxygen).

What surgical masks DO filter is aerosol fluid droplets-- those are MUCH bigger than virons-- they're MUCH bigger than most bacteria and they're the primary means of respiratory virus transmission. Of course, it helps to change the filter fairly often, and it works better CONFINING the virus an infected person might disperse than preventing new exposure-- the fluid droplets dry out and some viral particles might be sucked in subsequently, but most likely stick to the paper, which has partial charges all over the cellulose molecules.

[kestrel91316]

12. Thank you for the most excellent post, mike c. I get too aggravated to

explain these things after about 20 attempts.

[MercutioATC]

17. BINGO!!

Of course viruses are too small to be filtered by masks. Any mask that was fine enough to stop viruses wouldn't allow enough airflow to breathe.

That said, masks are relatively good at stopping droplets (from sneezes, coughs, etc.). The viruses travel in these droplets, so masks do provide an efficient barrier.

Sure, one could pony up more money and get a completely contained breathing system or a sealed, filtered system...but for most, the masks will significantly reduce exposure to the virus.

[NJmaverick]

6. HERE is the information you need on this topic

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm

[Javaman]

11. Good stuff! Thanks for the link/info! :) nt

[NJmaverick]

15. No problem I strongly recommend using the CDC for your main information site

they have the best and most accurate information. Here is their Swine Flu episode

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine

[valerief]

7. Aren't doctors given Tamiflu? nt

[kestrel91316]

9. When are they going to get it? The treatment is 5 days, IIRC.

If they are seeing patients on an ongoing basis are you going to have them take it for the next full YEAR?

Antivirals can have severe side effects. They are not supposed to be given for prolonged periods, IIRC.

[NJmaverick]

16. There is a prophylaxis treatment regiment

involving one dose once a day for 10 days. However currently there is no use Tamiflu at this point in time.

[kestrel91316]

8. Masks serve as a physical barrier to spewed nasal discharge if

you sneeze, and sputum if you cough. Far better than NO mask in that regard. And the value in keeping hands away from nose and mouth is incalculable.

None of us medical types have any illusion about stopping movement of virus particles per se, BUT those virus particles rely very heavily on our help in the form of coughing, sneezing, and touching dirty hands to faces.

So if this turns out to be a significant killer, I WILL be wearing one of my molded surgical masks in my exam room if a client comes in feeling less than 100%, or if I am feeling less than 100%. And I will have the client put one on in the exam room, too. And there WILL be aggressive handwashing.

Doing SOMETHING is far preferable to doing nothing.

[Javaman]

13. Good points. Thanks. nt

[luvspeas]

14. Some people will make up anything to make themselves feel like they can control something...

I brought this up a couple of days ago and got the same strange responses.

[MercutioATC]

18. So don't wear a mask. Inhale other people's virus-infested mucus.

I'll opt for the spray barrier over nothing. It's not like the masks are expensive...and they DO confer real (though not 100%) protection.

[FamousAmos]

20. Interesting...

and to think that for all of those years they didn't even have face masks let alone anesthesia...yikes

[Stellabella]

21. I had to smile at your title.

I hate going to the dentists and have had bad experiences with them in the past, but I wouldn't go so far to say that dentists are swine!

From the movie 'Arthur':

Arthur on bar stool, pretending to be a dentist: "We're not bad guys!"

Guy next to him in bar: "Oh my God"