The office and procedures may be a lot safer than you think.
Since many dentists closed their doors to routine cleanings and exams in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients were left wondering what the office would look like upon their return. “The dental industry has been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and those effects will continue to be seen and felt for months to come,” says Dr. Kyle D. Bogan, DDS.
Now that many dental offices are open across the country, prepare yourself for a lot of new preventative protocols to ensure safety for patients and staff. These steps are driven by recommendations from the American Dental Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the CDC.
If you’re due (or overdue!) for your bi-annual checkup, you may be worried about what you’ll be exposed to. “It’s important not to sacrifice your oral health for fear of COVID-19,” says Dr. Charles Sutera, FAGD. “Remember, your mouth is a critical part of your overall health and ability to ward off disease. The bacteria that build up in tartar, which can only be removed with special scaling tools, can create a number of oral health issues that, left untreated, can move on to infect other parts of the body. If you put off routine dental cleaning and checkups during the lockdown, schedule an appointment so you can get back on track to protecting your overall good health.”