Have You Put Off Dental Care Because of COVID-19? Let's Get Caught Up

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Dental Association (ADA) encouraged dental practices to limit non-urgent office visits. Now, however, even as the pandemic continues, the ADA asserts that dental care is essential. The ADA also reported a less than 1% transmission rate of COVID-19 at dental offices. 

With strict protocols in place to keep you safe, it’s now safe to get caught up with any dental care you missed during the earlier months of the pandemic. David Epstein, DDS, and Nikita Vakil, DMD, continue to offer dental care for all members of your family here at The Woodlands Dental Group in The Woodlands, Texas. 

Below, we discuss the benefits of catching up on your dental care.

Dental care is essential

In August 2020, the American Dental Association reminded global leaders that dental health is essential. Regular dental care plays a key role in preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease. 

Many of these diseases, including gum disease and tooth decay, are easier to treat during the earlier stages. Routine dental care provides the opportunity for Dr. Epstein or Dr. Vakil to catch small problems before they snowball into larger ones.

Dental care impacts more than just oral health

When you think about dental care, you may only think about your teeth. However, dental care doesn’t just improve the health of your mouth. Oral care affects your overall health. According to the experts at Mayo Clinic, insufficient oral care and poor oral health can be linked to body-wide conditions, such as endocarditis (inflammation of the heart), pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and preterm births.

How to get caught up

If you missed a routine cleaning or two, you’re not alone. Thankfully, though, it’s easy to get back on track. When you come in for a cleaning, you can expect the following:

• A thorough exam
• Removal of plaque and tartar
• Dental X-rays
• Fluoride treatment

During your appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss any current symptoms you’re experiencing. Tooth sensitivity, tooth pain, or bleeding gums may signal the need for additional treatments. For example, tooth sensitivity may be a sign of a cavity.

Fillings and sealants are additional services that can be performed during your appointment. When you leave from your appointment, we want you to feel confident that your oral care is in good hands. Should you need other treatments — whether that’s teeth whitening or clear aligners — we can get your next appointments scheduled.

What we’re doing to keep you safe

In order to keep you and your family safe, we’re following all guidelines for dental practices, including the following:

• Screening everyone who enters the office for fever or other signs of COVID-19
• Removing reading materials and toys from waiting rooms
• Increasing handwashing frequency
• Wearing more personal protective equipment, including masks
• Encouraging social distancing among staff as well as patients
• Encouraging all patients to wear masks until they’re seated in the dentist’s chair
• Increasing cleaning protocols

If you have specific questions about the safety protocols we’re following, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll be happy to share more details about our strategies to keep our office as clean as possible. 

We know this is an unprecedented time, but know that we’re doing everything in our power to deliver the dental care you deserve in a safe environment. If you’re overdue for an exam or cleaning, let us help you get back on track. If you’re ready, book an appointment over the phone with The Woodlands Dental Group today.