Dentistry during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a significant change in the routine of almost every one of us. One major aspect that has seen a significant change is how patients visit their healthcare providers, including dentists. With COVID-19 cases increasing every day, many Americans try avoiding non-urgent medical visits to limit their potential to exposure to the virus. However, this is not advisable as delaying regular dental checkups and emergency dental care is a problem in its own right and can lead to complex oral health issues in the future. 

Many people doubt visiting dentists during COVID-19 as dental treatments involve sitting face-to-face with the dentist maskless and open-mouthed for an extended time. However, despite these concerns, everyone can be assured that visiting the dentist is safe, even during a pandemic. Here's why.

How have dental practices adjusted to the change?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, a few changes have been made to how dental consultations are conducted in our dental office. However, it is essential to note that even before the pandemic brought about new sanitation rules, dental practices were always compliant with the safety standards and infection-control measures to ensure that all the patients had a convenient and safe visit. 

Here are some of the measures that we always emphasize and have paid more attention to during the pandemic:

• Wearing masks and gloves: Covering the mouth and nose using a face mask is the most dependable way to fight against the Covid-19 virus. This can significantly reduce the chances of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus from infected individuals to healthy ones. Dental professionals were always accustomed to wearing masks and gloves while treating patients. 
• Sanitization of the tools and work surfaces: Disinfection or disposal of tools used is also a norm dentists have practiced before the coronavirus age. The work surfaces, tools, and equipment used are well-sanitized and disinfected to eliminate any possible pathogens after every patient leaves our office post-consultation.

Additional Measures

In addition to the safety measures mentioned above, our dentistry has also enacted numerous pandemic precautions. This includes the following: 

• Pre-screening questions: When our patients reach us by call or online to schedule an appointment, we will ask them a few pre-screening questions regarding their current health condition and provide a suitable consultation based on the responses.
• Temperature check: Once patients reach our dental practice for the consultation, we will check their temperature at the front office before they enter the back operatories. 
• Expanded Patient Appointments: Appointments in our dental office are managed in a way that we can maintain social distancing between patients.
• Waiting area: Social distancing is maintained in our office in all the possible areas to prevent the chances of getting infected. We request all our patients to wait in their cars until it is their time for the consultation. This ensures that only a limited number of patients are allowed inside our dental office. The seating inside the office is also arranged apart, keeping social distancing in mind. 
• Sanitizers: At our dental practice, you can notice that we have placed sanitizers at all the commonly used places. This allows our patients and staff to clean their hands frequently and prevent the spread of the virus.
• Masks for patients: We request all our patients and team members to wear face masks or other personal protective equipment when they enter our dental office. 
• Oral Antimicrobial Rinse: We will ask our patients to use an oral antimicrobial rinse for 30 seconds before they sit on the dental chair for the procedure. 
• Daily Health Check-Up For Our Team: We will check our staff's temperature every day and ask the same pre-screening questions we ask our patients to ensure that all our staff is healthy. 

Your safety is our promise

We assure you that we have been strictly following all safety guidelines from the ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the transmission of the virus. Our patients can confidently visit our practice for all the dental services - preventative care, cosmetic restoration, and emergency procedures.

Delaying dental care can be fatal

Avoiding visiting the dentist because of the fear of contracting the coronavirus could risk the entire oral health of the patient. The risk of developing oral problems if patients don't visit the dentist is higher than the chance of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus at a dental office. Non-severe conditions can also worsen if left untreated for long. Without regular preventive care, patients are more likely to have their dental issues become an emergency. Hence, we advise everyone to visit their dentist to get the dental concerns treated and for routine checkups.

However, the decision of whether or not someone should go to the dentist is ultimately their personal decision. Consider your own level of comfort with the current pandemic and do what feels best for you and your situation. The comfort and safety of our patients matter to us the most. We are ready to happily answer any questions our patients may have in your mind regarding the steps we have taken to make dental visits safe and secure.