4 Tips for Seeking Dental Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dentist Blog

Family dentists provide patient care for the entire family, from children to senior citizens. These dentists are well-versed in general dentistry. They're able to provide preventative care and dental treatments to alleviate pain and decay. It's wise to continue seeing your family dentist during the pandemic. However, you may need to slightly adjust your dental appointment routine. Here are four tips that will help you receive quick, hassle-free dental care during the coronavirus crisis:

1. Find out whether simultaneous dental appointments are an option.

Many people choose family dentists for their convenience. Since family dentists can work on people of all ages, it's easy to bring your kids with you to the dentist to get everyone's checkups out of the way at once. However, many dental practices have changed their rules regarding waiting areas. Loitering in the waiting room is prohibited in many places in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. You may still be able to schedule your family's dental appointments together if there are multiple dentists on staff to provide simultaneous exams.

2. Ask about safety protocols.

Dentists work with patients' open mouths all day, which means there is a high risk of COVID-19 transmission through exhaled droplets. Safety is a dentist's number one priority. Many family dentists have drastically enhanced their cleaning and sanitization protocols to give everyone a safe experience. If you feel apprehensive about going to the dentist, feel free to call ahead and ask your dentist what they're doing to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

3. Continue attending your regularly scheduled checkups.

Dental guidelines suggest that people with healthy teeth visit the dentist every six months for a checkup. During this appointment, your family dentist will examine your teeth for signs of decay. They will also scale your teeth, removing tartar, in addition to polishing and flossing your teeth. While the pandemic continues, you should not skip your regularly scheduled checkups. Preventative care is still very important during this time. Regular visits to your family dentist can prevent cavities and gum disease.

4. Ask your dentist if cosmetic treatments are still available.

Some dentists have temporarily altered the list of services they offer. Your dentist may or may not feel comfortable offering elective treatments, such as cosmetic procedures, during this time. Teeth whitening, dental veneers, and some types of dental bonding are considered cosmetic treatments. If you're interested in one of these treatments, call your family dentist to find out if they're available. If cosmetic procedures are not currently available, ask your dentist when they plan to resume offering these treatments so you can plan ahead.

For more information, contact dental clinics such as Henderson Family Dentistry.

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16 September 2020

Loving Your Smile

Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.