I went to my dentist in June for our scheduled cleaning, which was postponed from April due to Covid. The dentist required all patients to rinse with iodine for 1 minute before the cleaning could begin. I reluctantly agreed. We are now at the 6 month mark and I had my next cleaning last Friday. Dentist is still requiring it. I told the hygienist I am not doing that again. If the doc was adamant about it I was going to have them clean my teeth, but that would be the last time and I would find a new dentist. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for me and them, the dentist was not in the office that day, only the hygienists.

I have a loose filling, so I need to go back on Wednesday to fix it. The dentist will be there and we will have a conversation about this. Does anyone else's dentist require this? Is rinsing for 1 minute with iodine any more effective than rinsing with Listerine?

Why are you opposed to the iodine rinse? Probably less toxic than the Listerene.

My dentist simply requires me to rinse with mouth wash. I rinse for about 5 to 10 secs.

I have never heard of this. A Google search revealed this:

Source

The result of this study revealed that 1% Povidone Iodine used as a pre-procedural mouthrinse has a bactericidal effect in the microorganism concentration resulting to the reduction of surviving microorganisms up to four hours which is the limitation of the study.

My dentist requires the 1 minute rinse.

I do it. I have had the same dentist for 20 years and I trust him.

I read that same article. What they don't discuss is if it's more or less effective than Listerine. I am going to quiz him about the dilution. From what I could tell, it was full strength iodine, not diluted.

I asked the hygienist if Listerine was just as effective and she kind of agreed, but it's not her call.

The dentist shares office space with an Orthodontist. I had to take my 8 YO son in this past Wednesday to get molds done for braces. The orthodontist has him rinse with mouthwash, and is not timed (10 seconds maybe).

The dentist had a 1 minute timer to make sure it's the full minute.

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:
Why are you opposed to the iodine rinse?

Because it tastes like shit and iodione stains. If there was no alternative I wouldn't protest. What I am trying to gauge is is it any more effective than Listerine.

They don't want to get Covid, I get it. But what about me breathing on them for 30 minutes while they clean my teeth or fix my filling. Does Covid not exist in the lungs?

I was in to see my dentist last month and I was required to rinse with something. I don't have a problem with it.

The dentist and staff are trying to protect themselves and the patient.

quote:

Does anyone else's dentist require this?

Yep. I've been to the dentist twice since this all started, and it was required both times.

No big deal.

My dentist is doing something similar, but with a hydrogen peroxide solution instead of iodine.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
From what I could tell, it was full strength iodine, not diluted.

I’m no chemist, but from what I do know, iodine exists as a solid at room temperatures and only melts above the boiling point of water. Anything you’re being asked to rinse with would therefore have to be some sort of solution. Concentrations may vary, but they’re all going to be diluted.

I am interested in all this though, because since the pandemic restrictions I’ve been to two different dentists for a total of four visits and neither had me do any sort of rinse. What do they do about people who are allergic to iodine (intolerant, actually, but which is fairly common, I believe)?

What is the goal? Bacteria reduction/deactivation or this Covid? If strictly bacteria, I suppose I understand somewhat, but inly because the goal is reached. If that’s the only reason, I believe mouthwash would perform the same function.

If they say Covid is the reason, someone should remind him that the virus in the lungs is the problem, not the mouth. You might kill viruses in the mouth, but one cough later you’re back to square one.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
My dentist is doing something similar, but with a hydrogen peroxide solution instead of iodine.

Same, just last week.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
From what I could tell, it was full strength iodine, not diluted.

I’m no chemist, but from what I do know, iodine exists as a solid at room temperatures and only melts above the boiling point of water. Anything you’re being asked to rinse with would therefore have to be some sort of solution. Concentrations may vary, but they’re all going to be diluted.

If I read it correctly, the article says to further dilute the iodine that is readily available in the grocery store. But I'm no chemist either.

PVP-I solutions sold over-the-counter are usually a 10% concentration for use as an antiseptic for lacerations. The SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 strain, virus stock was tested against oral antiseptic solutions where PVP-I was the only active ingredient. The PVP-I was tested at diluted concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. Each of these diluted concentrations completely inactivated SARS-CoV-2 within 15 seconds of contact. The viricidal activity was present at the lowest concentration of 0.5% and at the lowest contact time of 15 seconds.

My dentist did the same with peroxide last I was there. This was 5 months ago. He said he wasn't sure of its efficacy based on the research at the time, but it was a "better safe than sorry" precaution. They also require you to brush your teeth before coming.

While he is not the most gentle of hands, he knows his stuff, so I'll go with it. Nothing harmful or noxious, so why not?

quote:

Originally posted by Oat_Action_Man:
They also require you to brush your teeth before coming.

Well, that's just plain common courtesy.

Who rolls into the dentist's office with unbrushed teeth?

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
What is the goal? Bacteria reduction/deactivation or this Covid? If strictly bacteria, I suppose I understand somewhat, but inly because the goal is reached. If that’s the only reason, I believe mouthwash would perform the same function.

If they say Covid is the reason, someone should remind him that the virus in the lungs is the problem, not the mouth. You might kill viruses in the mouth, but one cough later you’re back to square one.

I'm a dentist (ortho) and agree. I do not have patients rinse.

quote:

Who rolls into the dentist's office with unbrushed teeth?

^^^^^^^^^^^
You would be surprised. I have some close friends that are dentists.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Who rolls into the dentist's office with unbrushed teeth?

<thread drift>
There was a Steven Wright comedy skit from the late 80's, I'm on my work machine and they block youtoob so I can't post it. One of his segments was about how he has a hot hygienist. He said he eats a full box of Oreos right before he goes in to get his teeth cleaned.
</thread drift>

HAHAHA

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:
My entire family had our teeth cleaned this summer. Our dentist required a current temperature check and a small screening survey at the time of service.

I've been twice since the Covid started, this is all that was required.