Dental emergencies and your general oral health needs can’t be put on hold, even during a pandemic. While nonessential cosmetic procedures can be pushed back to a later date, it’s still important to keep up with your dental care.
Haider Family Dentistry is open, and Dr. Jeremy Haider and our entire team are committed to ensuring the safety of all our patients and staff at our office in Salem, Oregon. Here’s what you need to know if you need to visit the dentist during COVID-19.
Is it safe to go to the dentist during COVID-19?
The coronavirus pandemic continues, and it may be some time before things get back to normal. In the meantime, your teeth and gums can’t always wait, especially if you have oral health issues like cavities or gum disease or if you experience an accident or trauma to your teeth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA) have issued guidelines to minimize the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 at the dentist:
- Call the office before making an appointment to discuss your situation
- Contact the office again before your appointment to go over safety procedures or to change your appointment if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or you’ve come into contact with someone with symptoms or who has tested positive for COVID-19
- Wash your hands thoroughly and often
- Wear a face mask
- Practice social distancing
- Don’t arrive early to your appointment
Additionally, the Oregon Health Authority is taking a phased approach to reopening and monitoring COVID-19 cases by county. At the moment, Marion County, where Haider Family Dentistry is located, has met the requirements for safely reopening according to state government guidelines.
We’re here for you
Every situation is different, so the best thing to do is to call the office ahead of time to discuss your symptoms or concerns with a member of our staff. Know that we’re using extra layers of protection and we’ve instituted additional cleaning protocols.
In general, healthy adults and children with no urgent oral health issues can usually postpone nonessential cosmetic dentistry procedures like teeth whitening if you’re worried about COVID-19. We encourage you to maintain your appointments for routine checkups and cleanings.
Issues like bleeding, pain, tooth loss, or signs of infection are typically considered dental emergencies. Don’t ignore these problems or put off treatment so they get worse. Our office is open, and we can help.
Our staff is available to answer your questions and concerns regarding our dental services during COVID-19. For more information about the precautions and safety guidelines we have in place or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.