Tips For Visiting the Dentist During the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the way we view professional services, including dental services. It’s important that you do everything possible to protect yourself, but what about when it’s time to visit the dentist? There are lots of questions about dentist visits, since this is an essential service. Thankfully, the CDC has addressed the concerns of dentist professionals and dental patients. Following is helpful guidance and tips to take when visiting the dentist.

Essential Services Only, For Now

Until the COVID-19 crisis is over, the CDC recommends that you only visit the dentist for essential services. For the time being, routine, checkup exams should be put off until everything is open for business as usual in your area. Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit the dentist at all. It simply means that dental professionals have been advised to “prioritize urgent and emergency visits.” For example, if there are no issues with your teeth or gums, then is best to wait to have your six-month checkups until the crisis has abated. Elective work should also be delayed, such as teeth whitening or porcelain veneers. However, if you have any problems, then by all means take care of it by visiting your dentist. Contact your dentist with your concerns about your dental health to see if you should go in for a visit.

Don’t Put Off Important Issues

On the flip side, you should never put off important issues. Avoid trying to decide for yourself whether or not your dental concern is “urgent enough” to warrant seeing the dentist during the COVID-19 crisis. For instance, you may think that your newly developed chronic bad breath may not be urgent. However, this may indicate a rapidly progressing tooth decay situation that needs to be addressed immediately in order to save your tooth. Or, you may believe that your sleep apnea problem can wait. But sleep apnea can be dangerous and easily remedied by a quick visit to your dentist. The professional advice is to not put off important issues, and always rely on your dentist’s recommendation as to come in for a visit or not. A quick call to your dentist is all it takes.

Wear Personal Protective Equipment

If you and your dentist do decide that you should go in for a visit, wear your own personal protective equipment. While your dentist will certainly have personal protective equipment on hand, you’ll want to be prepared ahead of time. This includes wearing a high qualify face mask that is capable of blocking out microscopic particles. It also includes wearing gloves and bringing a pair of eyeglasses or goggles. Your dental professionals will provide you with any additional protective gear necessary, depending on the dental work that you’re having done.

Just because there is a pandemic going on, you should not jeopardize your dental health. Teeth and gum issues can become serious very quickly if you don’t get professional dental help. Contact your Parke & Rogers Dentistry for more information.