Our body fights bacteria and viruses without us knowing it. If your eyes are the gateway to your soul, your teeth are the gateway of bacteria to attack your body. With a COVID-19 pandemic at hand, it can be scarier to go to the dentist than deal with your dental issues.
In this post, we’ll share the common woes of patients about going to the dentist. We will also discuss the factors you should expect from dental professionals and dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Is it safe to go to the dentist during COVID?
A: Going to the dentist is safe as long as stringent safety protocols are in place in a dental practice and dental professionals are wearing the proper PPE, face shields, and face masks. A study from the Journal of the American Dental Association states that there is less than 1% of reported COVID cases in dental settings.
A patient must also observe how a dental practice follows the safety protocols laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While dental practices are considered high-risk areas due to the nature of the COVID-19 virus transmission, the oral health industry has been doing stringent safety protocols for infection control even before the pandemic started.
Thanks to our advanced technology today, teledentistry has made it easier for patients to connect with dentists and receive continuous oral care remotely.
Why is it essential to see a dentist amid the pandemic?
Everything in the world may stall due to a pandemic but not with health and dental conditions. Untreated dental infections can get worse and lead to chronic illnesses. That’s why patients should not take any dental problems lightly, as it can be a cause of gum disease or a result of an underlying health condition.
What to look for in dental practice during a pandemic?
It can be hard to weigh the risks and benefits of going to the dentist during a pandemic. Here are some of the things that you should look for in a dental practice to feel safer during your dental procedures despite the risks. A dental practice should:
- Maintain the implementation of social distancing in and out of the premises and prevent overcrowding in the waiting room and other facilities in the dental office.
- Make sure dental teams are wearing protective equipment like PPEs, face masks, and face shields at all times.
- Sanitize before and after dental procedures.
- Ideally, provide PPEs to patients to prevent exposure of the staff and other patients to infectious diseases like COVID.
- Utilize telehealth systems for patient screenings and post-procedure checkups.
Should I wait for the COVID vaccine before going to the dentist?
With the continuous COVID vaccination around the globe, many patients are curious how it will change the dynamics of the dental health system. The effectiveness of the COVID vaccines is still an on-going discovery. Face masks and social distancing remain a standard protocol as it is still unclear if the vaccine can stop the spread of the virus.
That means you can go to the dentist as long as you follow all the safety protocols. Vaccinations can wait, but the progression of your dental problem does not.
Let us help you prevent your dental condition from getting worse amid the pandemic
A huge risk to take is not taking one at all. Let us help you prevent the progression of your dental condition and avoid compromising your health. As a top-rated dentist in Florissant, Soft Touch Dental is committed to keeping you safe throughout your appointment with us. Call us now to learn more about our safety protocols.