Do you have a dental emergency during COVID-19?
even though much of our daily lives have been turned upside down, at least one thing will remain constant for dentists and their patients: people will still have 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:
- Chipped, broken or knocked out tooth
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Severe swelling on your face, neck or mouth
- Sensitive teeth
- Toothache that you cannot remedy yourself with over-the-counter pain medication
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Teething
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 are 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?
If you are experiencing a dental emergency during this time of uncertainty here are a few things you can do to protect your health while still pursuing treatment.
Contact us immediately
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 area
Hold an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area to help ease discomfort and reduce swelling.
Locate any lost teeth
If your tooth gets knocked out do your best to find it. Once you've rinsed it gently with water, place the tooth back in the socket it fell out of, or place it in a container of milk. With any luck, your dentist may be able to reattach it.
Answer 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.
Choose to 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.
Practice social distancing
We will get you an appointment as soon as possible. If you do need to wait in the waiting room, you’ll find chairs spaced 2 metres apart. There will be no magazines or other non-essential items as we try to reduce the number of touchable surfaces.
Dentists will wear protective gear
In addition to surgical face masks, your dentist and the staff at the office will wear personal protective equipment during appointments.
Attend your appointment alone
Plan to attend your appointment alone to reduce the risk of contracting any viruses (exceptions are made for children or people who require assistance).
Pay with contactless payment
Plan to pay any balance owing on your appointment with your credit card or debit card.