Don’t Skip Seeing the Dentist During the COVID-19 Pandemic

You hear it every day: these are unprecedented times. As we all attempt to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to know what’s safe and what isn’t. The good news? The dentist’s office is one of the safest places you can go.

Last June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines for the safe re-opening of dental offices and The American Dentistry Association (ADA) encourages regular dental care.  Still, some people have concerns about going to the dentist during a pandemic. Dentists are reporting a decrease in appointments of about 30 percent. Let’s look at the facts about dental checkups during COVID-19.

• There are no documented cases of patients being infected with COVID-19 during a dental visit. Further, only less than one percent of dentists in the United States have had a confirmed or probably COVID-19 diagnosis, according to research from the ADA.
• Dental offices are taking even more precautions than they usually do. In the 1980s, before the HIV/AIDS crisis, dentists were lax about protection. They didn’t wear gloves, surgical gowns, masks, or eye protection. For the past several decades, though, they’ve understood the importance of a sanitary environment and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). With COVID, they’ve stepped it up even further, creating almost operating room-level environments to keep team members and patients safe and healthy.
• The pandemic may actually be the worst time to skip the dentist. When people are dealing with unaccustomed levels of stress, feeling isolated and depressed, they’re often laxer about personal care. What’s more, many people are staying home more, snacking more, and paying less attention to their dental health. Still, over the past year, dentists have seen an uptick in cavities.
• Untreated dental disease will get worse. Small, easily treatable problems can turn into major issues if they’re not caught in a dental checkup. By the time a dental issue is bothering the patient, it is often an already severe problem.
• Dental problems affect the health of the whole body. Delaying oral healthcare isn’t just bad for your mouth. Unhealthy teeth and gums can lead problems in the heart, kidneys, lungs, and more.

At West County Dental, we provide personalized family dental care using state of the art procedures. Adhering to a standard of excellence, we provide comprehensive treatment, from preventive care to restorative dentistry. When you make an appointment with West County Dental, you can be confident that our team of highly-trained dental professionals will provide you the care you need for a healthy smile. Call (314) 488-2921 or contact us through our website today!