Life during a pandemic, as we all have learned the last few months, is uncertain and uncharted territory for most. Most people have concerns about the safety and health for themselves and their loved ones.
Your dentist’s concerns are the same! There has been a lot in the news lately about postponing dental appointments, saying that dental work is non-essential.
The American Dental Association, “respectfully yet strongly disagrees” with the World Health Organization’s recommenda tion to do so, also stating that “Oral health is integral to overall health.” Dentistry is essential health care, and that has been made apparent the last few months.
During the period of quarantining, our main focus was seeing only emergencies to keep patients out of the emergency room and hospitals. However, we have seen that some of those that delayed “elective” treatment had emergencies after delaying such treatment.
The problem is that many times there is no pain or visible signs or symptoms associated with dental problems, and once the pain, swelling, etc. starts the problem becomes much more serious and can quickly escalate to an emergency in a short time if left untreated.
For example, a moderately sized cavity may only cause some cold sensitivity, but if not treated in a few weeks or months could turn into a large cavity that causes an abscess and requires a root canal or extraction.
So, those worried about visiting your dentist during these uncertain times, take comfort knowing that your dentist has always used sterilizing techniques and protective equipment to keep you and them safe, and have increased both to keep up with the novel COVID-19 virus.
As with any healthcare, risk vs. benefit is a huge factor in making decisions. We believe as a profession that the benefit of receiving “elective” dental treatment outweighs the risks of delaying it.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask and your dentist can alleviate any concerns you may have.
We are here to treat our patients, and our goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy!