Are you having second thoughts about visiting your dentist this year due to COVID?
Maybe knowing what to expect on your dental appointment can give you some courage to receive dental care amid the pandemic. As a trusted dentist in Florissant, Soft Touch Dental continues to serve your dental needs by securing a safe and infection-free dental environment.
In this post, we will discuss how we implement safety protocols to keep you and our dental staff safe from the virus.
CDC Guidelines for dental appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic
In the last quarter of 2020, dental practices were given the go signal to accept both emergency and non-emergency dental cases. To comply with the CDC guidelines, dental professionals and patients must have a proactive approach in preventing the spread of the virus. Here are the new protocols from the CDC for the new normal in the dental settings:
- Critical dental services are prioritized to prevent the progression of dental conditions that may cause more harm to the patient.
- Scheduling of dental appointments is vital to prevent overcrowding at the dental practice.
- COVID-19 screening must be done before the dental appointment and remind patients to stay at home if they are not feeling well.
- Protective coverings and social distancing are a must inside the dental facility.
- Implement more stringent sanitation measures before and after dental procedures.
Embracing the new normal at Soft Touch Dental
At Soft Touch Dental, we strive to give you the safest dental experience possible during this difficult time. In compliance with the CDC’s COVID-19 safety protocols for dental settings, here’s our new process in providing our dental appointments in Florissant:
- Schedule an appointment with us here and include your dental concern. Make sure to also mention if you have any travel history or medical condition.
- Our dental staff will reach out to you and provide you with a COVID-19 screening before your appointment. We appreciate your honesty in answering the questionnaire for everyone’s safety.
- You must arrive at the exact time of your dental appointment to avoid overcrowding in the dental practice.
- Upon arrival, you must enter the building alone and let your family members wait in the car.
- You must wear a face mask upon entering the building.
- You must also practice social distancing inside the dental practice.
- Temperature checks are required before your appointment.
What to do during a dental emergency?
For dental emergencies in Florissant, we encourage you to call us immediately before going to our dental practice. This is to keep our safety protocols in place and avoid the spread of the virus. A single exposure to the virus can put our other patients and staff at risk for the virus.
To know if your dental condition is considered to be a dental emergency, you must be experiencing any of the following:
- Loose tooth due to trauma
- A chipped tooth or cracked tooth where a big portion of the tooth structure is removed
- Severe cavities causing throbbing pain
- Loose dental brackets (braces) that can potentially wound your tongue, gums, or cheeks
- Facial trauma in the mouth area causing breathing difficulty
- Unbearable toothache that lasted for two days
- Dental abscess or infection causing severe pain and inflammation
- Continuous gum bleeding
- Gum infection
Got more COVID-19 concerns? Let us know.
Many patients are delaying their dental care due to the fear of contracting COVID. However, a simple tooth filling can turn into a tooth extraction if your dental condition is left untreated. What’s worse is if your condition leads to a tooth or gum infection that can affect your overall immune system.
If you have more questions about our safety protocols or dental services in Florissant, please call us at (314) 838-9454. You may also book your appointment today so you can receive dental care as soon as possible.