So far, you’ve been doing an excellent job of adhering to the CDC’s recommended social distancing guidelines. You’ve been adjusting to working from home and wearing a mask and gloves on the rare occasions when you have to leave the house. One day, you’re binge-watching your favorite show when you accidentally bite down the wrong way on a popcorn kernel. Waves of pain shoot through your mouth. You discover that part of one of your molars has chipped off! You’re tempted to call the dentist, but will it be safe? Keep reading to find out.
Are Dentists Even Open?
Yes and no. At the moment, most dentists are following the American Dental Association’s (ADA) recommendations that they only treat patients with dental emergencies, such as a severely chipped tooth or an intense toothache. However, regular procedures such as cleanings or fillings are generally being postponed for the foreseeable future. Your dentist probably doesn’t yet know when they’re going to reopen, so it’s safe to assume that for the time being, you can only see your dentist if you have some kind of emergency.
What Safety Measures Is Your Dentist Taking?
Even when there isn’t a global pandemic going on, your dentist’s office is one of the safest and cleanest places you could be. Under normal circumstances, they follow strict health and safety protocols set by the CDC and the ADA. These days, they are taking even greater safety measures to ensure that patients stay as healthy as possible and avoid catching germs of any kind.
Some of the health and safety protocols that your dentist is implementing include:
- Evaluating the health of all staff members every day, including taking their temperature
- Taking the temperature of every patient before they walk through the doors
- Asking every patient questions about their recent health status
- Having team members change into their work clothes at work instead of at home
- Wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as masks, gloves, and face shields
- Having patients wait in their cars instead of the waiting room until their appointment
- Having patients rinse their mouths out before beginning treatment
- Implementing dedicated hours for at-risk patients
- Thoroughly cleaning every surface of the operatory after each patient
- Changing gloves and washing hands between patients
- Disinfecting each instrument used between patients
You can rest easy knowing that even during a pandemic, your dentist’s office is one of the cleanest places you could be. They take great care to make sure all of their patients are safe. If you have a dental emergency like a painful tooth, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call your dentist.
About the Author
Dr. Sujal Patel practiced dentistry in India before moving to the US and earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University. He keeps up active memberships in the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the Dallas Local Society. At the moment, his practice is gradually opening up for treating non-emergency patients. You can contact Dr. Patel’s office at (972) 629-9339.