Many Muslims observe fasting hours and avoid all consumption during the month of Ramadan, which ends in the evening of July 28 this year. Does the observance preclude dental treatment? Only if the patient does not consume water, according to an article by Emirates 24/7.
The Central Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the authority which issues fatwas in the United Arab Emirates, explained that, consequently, many Muslims do not seek dental treatment during fasting hours to avoid inadvertent consumption.
Rania Al-Haridi, DDS, a dentist in Dubai, noted that statistics back the assertion, and that there is an uptick in dental clinic visits after Iftar, when the fast is broken after sunset, than during the day.
Injected anesthesia does not break the fast, but an extraction could jeopardize Ramadan observance if the patient is beset by severe bleeding or other complications, despite the use of suction, she explained. Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and preventive treatments should be postponed until after Iftar, because they are dependent on water and are not typically urgent, Dr. Al-Haridi noted.
