Don’t Put Off Necessary Dental Care During COVID-19: How We’re Protecting Our Patients

When COVID-19 hit, dental clinics closed along with many businesses and other health clinics because of the potential risks of spreading the disease. As we have learned more about the novel coronavirus and how it spreads, the good news is that we have been able to reopen many businesses—including Young Family Dental.

However, many people are still worried about going to a healthcare setting because you’re concerned about the potential risks of getting the virus. Even after many healthcare facilities opened back up, millions of patients have put off essential care because they are worried about COVID-19 exposure risks. Oral health is closely linked to your overall health, which means that it’s important not to put off routine dental cleanings or other essential care right now.

Why Dental Care Matters More Than Ever

Your oral health is closely linked to your overall health, which means that skipping dental care right now could actually be very harmful. Periodontal disease (gum disease) is closely linked to other health conditions. Gum disease can make some health issues worse, such as diabetes or heart disease, and can lower your body’s ability to fight infection.

In addition to maintaining good daily oral health habits like brushing your teeth for two minutes, two times a day and flossing each day, you should also be scheduling regular cleanings with the dentist to remove plaque and provide a deep cleaning. If you have dental concerns, like cavities, now is the time to get them taken care of so your mouth isn’t hindering your immune system.

How to Stay Safe and Get the Care You Need

We know that you want to stay safe, and at Young Family Dental your safety is our highest priority. To date there have been no cases of COVID-19 linked to dental practices anywhere in the U.S., but we still take our responsibility seriously and have several protective measures in place, including:

• Scheduling patients far enough apart to avoid long waits in the waiting area
• Making sure that everyone can safely stay 6 feet apart in common areas
• Increasing our efforts to clean surfaces within the clinic and follow strict sterilization protocols (cleanliness and sanitation have always been and will continue to be a high priority in our clinics)
• Placing hand sanitizer throughout the clinic and encouraging you to use it frequently during your visit anytime you touch any of our surfaces, such as doorknobs or countertops
• Requiring everyone who comes in to wear a mask prior to and after your appointment, and all our staff will be wearing masks too (our clinical staff have always done that, and we’ll continue to do so)
• Requesting that anyone who has recently traveled or has symptoms of COVID-19 please reschedule your appointment and do not come to the clinic

We know this is a difficult time for many, but it’s important not to neglect oral health care. Please contact us today with any questions you have about our current protocols.