Dental Care and COVID-19: What You Should Know

How do you recognize what’s essential and what can be put off? It’s over a century since the United States last faced a national health crisis on the scale of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a much different world today.

Effective dental care has long depended on the pattern of regular visits to the dentist along with brushing and flossing. It’s possible that you’ve missed up to three routine visits since the start of the pandemic, and that doesn’t include appointments for things you might normally have checked.

Is going to the dentist safe while COVID-19 is active? The short answer is yes, and our team at SmileBoutique in Mount Vernon, New York, wants to assure you that your safety is always a top priority. The time is now to get caught up with your dental care. Here’s what you should know.

Initial responses

In the early days of the pandemic, both the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that dental practices restrict their care to emergency services only, since little was known about how easily the coronavirus transmitted.

Since then, we’ve learned that the hygiene standards and cleaning practices routinely followed in dental practices for decades make it difficult for the virus to survive long enough to infect others.

An indication of this is that less than 1% of dentists across the country have tested positive for coronavirus infection.

Health care diligence

Dentists’ offices are always well-sterilized, given the nature of the environment and the work. With COVID-19, we tightened these already stringent standards even more. On top of that, we screen patients receiving care for active COVID-19 symptoms before their appointments.

We spread out appointments to limit the overlap of traffic in the office, so it’s more important than ever to arrive promptly.

Telephone evaluations also assess the need for in-person visits in some cases, an important element in reducing traffic in treatment and waiting rooms.

We may ask you to limit people accompanying you to only those who are essential for your care, such as a driver or guardian. Masks are required for all those who enter SmileBoutique except, of course, during their dental procedures.

Treatments you can delay

While it’s safe to visit SmileBoutique when following COVID-19 precautions, you may still feel better about limiting your visits, particularly if you’re still waiting for vaccination. Skipping elective dental procedures usually won’t create problems for you down the road.

These include treatments such as:

Cosmetic dental work like veneers
Teeth whitening
Starting Invisalign® treatment

The same holds true for exams, X-rays, and cleanings. Missing one or two shouldn’t be an issue if your oral health is good, but it’s close to the time where the benefits of preventive care may be falling behind.

If you have pain, tooth damage, swelling, or signs of infection, you may have health risks that require immediate attention.

Contact us by phone or online to schedule an urgent appointment, or for any questions you have about your oral care during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re here to help.