ALMA BARRERA Q&A

Alma Barrera: ‘honesty is key’ with patients

PROVIDED

Alma Alexandra Barrera was a third-year dental student when COVID-19 hit. She graduated from dental school in May with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, and said the dental industry has taken many measures to keep both dentists and patients safe in dental clinics.

By Ellie Pena

Medical professionals on the frontlines continue to battle the coronavirus while also helping people feel better and stay healthy. Dentists, especially, rely on patient honesty in screening tests to stay safe. Alma Alexandra Barrera, DDS, is a graduate of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry and completing her dental residency in San Antonio. She is Texas A&M Class of 2017 Biomedical Science.

Q: What are some of the changes you’ve experienced in the dental industry in light of COVID-19?

A: We have always been masked up, which is the nice thing, because I was already used to it, but the protective equipment we wear changed a little. We wear two face masks to protect against water and aerosol particles that fly around from various tools. We wear face shields, gloves, a gown to protect my clothes and my zoom goggles. A lot of what I wear stayed the same, but minor things were added for my overall safety, so that is of course the first direct change I have seen.

Q: What was it like being a dental student at the start of the pandemic?

A: Honestly, it was scary at first. The clinic was working at 50 percent or so, and the fourth-year dental students were paired up for physical distancing, so we did a lot on our own. No other dental schools had gone back when we did; only the emergency clinic I am a resident at now was working with extreme-case patients. Dental offices around the city were pretty much closed.

Q: What were the COVID-19 procedures for patients coming in?

A: If we had to run a handpiece for a filling, cleaning or anything in the mouth that was essentially touching, you needed a negative test. Originally, patients had to be tested within three days prior to their appointment, then it got changed to a week in about October of last year. It was hard because patients would have to schedule appointments months in advance, so if they had been exposed or felt under the weather, they had to cancel their appointment.

Q: What is it like to have patients who could potentially be sick?

A: That is an interesting point. It is a balance of trusting that if a patient comes in with a cough or other coldlike symptom that they only have a cold. If I notice a patient feeling under the weather, I ask them questions about COVID-19 exposure. But by the time they come to me, they have already answered screening questions concerning the virus online and when they check in for their appointment.

Q: Do you currently feel unsafe as a dentist amidst the pandemic?

A: With dentistry, it is a weird new normal. We work in the mouth, where the virus is primarily transmitted. Patients are not masked for about 99 percent of the work we do. As vaccinations became available in the state of Texas, I received mine one of the very first days.

Dentistry as an industry has a high level of exposure, and I was thankful that it was recognized. Our school did an amazing job organizing vaccinations for students, staff and residents. I felt cared-for and safe in the industry. With our screening process, we can see if patients are vaccinated or not as a part of our initial screening questions. Before the vaccinations, I was certainly scared because of the various unknowns.

Q: What do you want students at Texas A&M to know?

A: I think overall I would want everyone to remember the frontline workers like doctors, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, etc. I think of the janitorial staff that work to keep our facilities and schools clean. It is important to be appreciative of everyone that is working to keep you safe.

And finally, I would say to trust in science.