Dental Visit Once Again Listed as an Appointment You Should Not Miss During Pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic abruptly disrupted everyday life for millions of people across the nation and for many, this meant delaying important health care appointments.
As a result of the pandemic individuals have been forced to forgo important appointments, from routine cancer screenings, annual physicals, mammograms, dental visits, and other non-emergency health care visits.
Despite the pandemic healthcare systems all over have been able to adjust to the new norm of living with the Coronavirus. Adjustment has included the ability to supply adequate personal protective equipment needed and having the knowledge of how to appropriately create and implement safe environments available to the public.
With health care offices and hospitals being able to return to a regular workflow many have been urging patients to reschedule cancelled or missed appointments due to the pandemic. Whether you missed an appointment for an invasive procedure or routine dental work, it is not something that should be ignored. Preventative care provides the opportunity to identify an issue early on or keep you from getting sick.
Of course, no routine appointment should be put off, but it is important to prioritize rescheduling certain appointments that directly affect your overall health. Seeking care for the following is priority to an individual’s overall health:
- Urgent and emergency care.
- Diabetes Management.
- Cancer Screenings.
- Vascular issues.
- Heart disease.
- Dental Health.
- Follow-up after urgent or emergency care.
- Blood work and medicine checks.
- Other Chronic conditions.”
Dental health as listed above is often overlooked by many individuals, but oral health is much more important than many realize because it affects overall health. Which is why it is essential to receive regular dental care. The health of your mouth not only affects your teeth but also your heart, your lungs, your kidneys, and your brain. For example, gum disease, left untreated, can destroy your teeth without treatment and lead to periodontitis which poses several risk factors, and complications that can affect your heart.
As the nation adjusts, dental practices have adapted successfully and have been able to operate offices with precautions such as screening patients for symptoms, limiting the number of appointments, enforcing stringent sanitation protocols, creating socially distant environments, and many other precautions such as wearing more protective equipment.
Ideally, we’ve all been practicing at home dental care, flossing and brushing, especially if a routine dental appointment was postponed! But whatever the reason may be for your next dental visit whether you have a toothache, tooth sensitivity, need a dental exam, or just desperately need a teeth cleaning, the time to reschedule is now.
Contact us at (210) 979-0707 to schedule an appointment. If you have questions about safety protocols, voice your concerns with us. We want you to schedule your next appointment with ease and comfort knowing your safety and well-being has been taken into consideration and is important to us.
Sources
Howley, Elaine. How to Best Seek Medical Treatment During the Pandemic. U.S. News & World Report LP. https://health.usnews.com/conditions/coronavirus-and-your-health/how-to-best-seek-medical-treatment-during-the-pandemic. Published September 9, 2020. Accessed 7 October 2020.
Amenabar, Teddy. Yes, you should still go to the dentist. But be careful. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/28/dentist-appointment-faq-coronavirus/. Published June 28, 2020. Accessed 7 October 2020.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Periodontitis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473 Published February 14, 2020. Accessed October 7, 2020.