When is a good time to start going back to the dentist in the world of COVID-19?
Friends, family members, and dental clients ask the question, “When is a good time to start going back to the dentist as the world evolves through the COVID-19 pandemic?” Dr. Beninato and Dr. Patsi are asked this question frequently, and we at Riverwalk Dental see this question as critical to our clients’ health and wellbeing. So, for our most recent article, we believe it is important to answer this question from us to you, along with the advice and direction of the Massachusetts Dental Society, the CDC, and the American Dental Society.
Concerns about COVID-19 and visiting your dentist are real concerns that are taken seriously by the staff at Riverwalk Dental.
Disinfection and Dentistry
When answering the question as to whether it is safe to go to the dentist, it is important to understand that we in the dental community have always, as a necessary part of operating safely, taken the spread of any germs or viruses very seriously. Unlike other professions, dentistry has constantly been focused on the prevention of any kind of contamination in our offices. The proper practice of dentistry has always been rooted in hygiene and an extraordinary focus on preventing any transmission of infection. Simply by virtue of our focus on oral health, the team at Riverwalk Dental has always understood the need to keep all equipment and surfaces free of bacteria and viruses and we are proud of our perfect record to achieve this goal.
Today, like all other businesses, we have taken our already extremely high standard for hygiene and brought them to levels previously unseen. These include but not limited to:
- Limiting patient appointments to ensure social distancing.
- Screening of all people who enter our office prior to extending routine care.
- Require masks for everyone.
- Adhering to all other CDC requirements and Massachusetts reopening guidelines.
Riverwalk Dental’s perfect record of preventing the transmission of harmful contaminants will not be tarnished.
What are Other Experts Saying?
According to a recent article published by the Massachusetts Dental Society Word of Mouth magazine, they state it plainly for the citizens of the Bay State;
The Massachusetts Dental Society wants to let residents know that you shouldn’t let that fear force you to overlook your oral health. It is safe to go to the dentist right now, even for routine cleaning and exams. Your teeth and gums hold important clues to other health issues (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature births, and osteoporosis), so delaying your routine dental care could be detrimental to your oral and overall health.
This article goes on to cite the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA), who also echoed this information and underscores the fact that there have been zero instances reported of COVID-19 transmission taking place in a dental office.
In the age of COVID-19 it is important to be cautious, and it is also important to ensure that you are not at the same time avoiding preventative measures that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, could lead to more serious problems in the future. According to Safety.com, “A study released Aug. 10 [2020] found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with extreme gum disease were 22 times more likely to suffer from acute respiratory problems and to be placed on a ventilator.” In other words, poor oral health can have a multiplying effect on one’s overall health, especially if combined with a highly infectious virus like COVID-19.
The staff at Riverwalk Dental want you to be healthy and feel safe. We want to assure our clients that we have always had a keen eye on hygiene in our office and our perfect record reflects our dedication to this for you. If you haven’t visited in a while, make an appointment and come in for a visit soon.