Some patients experience normal flu-like symptoms. Others have to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator or even die. The threat of COVID-19 has nearly everyone concerned about their risk of infection, but this disease seems to strike certain populations harder than others. If you have a heart condition, lung condition, weakened immune system, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, your risk of experiencing more severe symptoms is significantly higher. Unfortunately, you can’t simply hide in your house—there are some essential tasks that you must go out to accomplish, such as getting care from your dentist in Lincoln. How can you ensure your safety in these environments? Read on to find out!
Consider a Virtual Visit
In some situations, an in-person appointment is unavoidable, like when you’re getting your teeth cleaned or a dental crown bonded into place. However, some visits with your dentist can be conducted virtually. Thanks to technology, you can have a consultation from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Ask in Advance
If you must visit your dentist in person for necessary dental work, give their office a call before your appointment and ask about the precautions they are taking. What kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) will their staff be using? What are they doing to reduce the number of people in the practice at any given time? Do they have daily health checks for both staff and patients before they enter the office? Do they have special designated times for those who are at higher risk? These are important questions to ask so that you can feel confident and safe visiting their office, even if you are a high-risk patient.
Practice Social Distancing Whenever Possible
Believe it or not, you can still practice social distancing in the dental office. Just because you have to be in close proximity to your dentist during a procedure, it doesn’t mean that the rest of your time in the office can’t follow these guidelines. Instead of offering handshakes or hugs as a greeting, your dental staff will stay at least 6 feet away from you whenever they can and simply wave. Although you may not see it because of the masks, they are still happy to see you and help you protect your oral health.
When they work on your smile, you’ll likely find that they are covered in extra PPE like disposable lab coats, face shields, and N95 and ASTM Level 3 masks. These added layers of protection aren’t intended just to keep the team members safe but the patients as well.
Although you must be careful to avoid the life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19, you don’t have to live in constant fear every time you leave the house. At risk patients and dental offices are working together to minimize the threat for everyone involved. That way, no one unintentionally passes on the infection as patients receive oral healthcare they need.
About the Practice
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Pioneer Greens Dentistry has taken precautions seriously. All three dentists and their staff have implemented safety protocols that help protect everyone who comes to the office by doing everything mentioned in this blog post. If you have questions about their protocols or if you are an at-risk patient and would like to take advantage of their at-risk hours, you can contact Pioneer Greens Dentist by clicking here.