Is it safe to see my dentist?


If you have been exposed to Covid 19 and are supposed to quarantine you should not visit your dentist. Similarly if you have any symptoms that might indicated you are infected , you should not see the dentist. These symptoms include but are not limited to : Running a fever, loss of smell, dry cough, Corona "toes", sore throat, or respiratory problems.

That being said, putting off needed dental treatment is not the best idea and can lead to unnecessary tooth loss or a dental infection that could put your overall health at risk. If your state is in Phase 1 or Phase 2 it is probably safe to see your dentist. Most dentists have studied up on what steps to take in order to safely treat their patients. After all they are trained well in infection control and the wearing of PPE. They have a vested interest in keeping their patients and staff safe and will likely take all the necessary steps as required by their local laws.

If you are experiencing mouth pain that maybe of dental origin, then you should call your dentist and discus whether you should come in. Please don't just walk in but instead call ahead of time. If you are concerned about the safety of visiting your dentist, feel free to inquire about what additional steps are they taking. If their approach seem reasonable, then go ahead and book an appointment and follow their instructions about your upcoming visit.

If you are uncomfortable with their response , then don't be shy or afraid to reach out via phone to another dental provider. After all at the end of the day in these times, we are ultimately responsible for our own safety. Now is not the time to cede our control completely to others. If a situations seems unsafe, then it is sensible to find an alternate path including going to another dentist that maybe following a safer protocol.

When you do go for your visit, expect to answer a number of questions pertaining to you health and have your temperature taken. Most likely the staff will have on a gown, mask and possibly wear a face shield. Don't worry, this is for your mutual protection and is a good sign, since you should be reassured that they are taking the appropriate steps to treat their patients safely!




from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2020/06/is-it-safe-to-see-my-dentist.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/

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