Do you have a dental emergency during COVID-19?
Though so much of our daily lives has been turned upside down, at least one thing remains constant for dentists and their patients: dental emergencies.
But how do you handle a dental emergency safely during these times, while respecting social distancing guidelines? Today, we’ll share a few tips.
Define your emergency
The first thing to do is to determine whether you have an urgent dental emergency that needs a dentist’s immediate attention. If you’re experiencing any of the following, call us right away:
- Teething
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Severe swelling on your face, neck or mouth
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Toothache that you cannot remedy yourself with over-the-counter pain medication
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Sensitive teeth
- Chipped, broken or knocked out tooth
New Rules & Regulations Under COVID-19
If you visit our office during a dental emergency, you’ll likely notice it looks somewhat different that it does under normal circumstances, and that protocols and extra precautions are in place to keep our staff and patients safe.
If you have a dental emergency, you can rest assured that we equipped to manage it safely. Learn more about our COVID-19 protocols here.
How should I handle a dental emergency during a global pandemic such as COVID-19?
By now, we’re all familiar with social distancing and pandemic safety rules, but how does that translate to the dentist’s office? Here are a few actions you can take:
Contact us as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to call if you are experiencing a dental emergency. We can provide advice over the phone and get you in as soon as possible. Bookmark this post, or type "dentist near me" into your favourite search engine and our information will likely pop up.
Apply ice to the affected area. Hold an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area.
Locate any lost teeth. If you’ve lost a tooth, try to locate it and rinse it with water. Hold the tooth in the socket it fell out of, or place it in a container of milk. Your dentist may be able to attach it.
Answer any required screening questions. When you contact our office, your dentist or their staff will ask you pre-screening questions to learn whether you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do, we can refer you to another office or make alternate arrangements.
Wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer. Wearing a face mask and using 70 to 90 percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering or leaving the building are two precautions to take.
Dentists will wear protective gear. In addition to surgical face masks, your dentist and their staff will wear personal protective equipment during in-person appointments.
Attend your appointment alone. Plan to attend your appointment alone (exceptions are made for children or people who require assistance).
Pay via touchless payment. Plan to pay any balance owing on your appointment with your credit card or debit card.
