COVID-19 and Your Dental Care: What You Need to Know
Last month, Illinois lawmakers announced a stay-at-home order. The order requires citizens to cease most social gatherings and limit errands to the essentials until at least April 30. This is meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 – a novel coronavirus that has infected nearly 2 million people globally.
The Illinois State Dental Society Board of Trustees has also taken steps to slow the spread. At the advice of the CDC, the board has insisted that all Illinois dental offices (including Hinsdale Dental) close their doors and only take emergency patients for the time being.
We know that this is a stressful and uncertain time. We want you to know that your safety is our primary concern. So today, let’s discuss how Hinsdale Dental is tackling the COVID-19 crisis.
The Risks of Dental Care During COVID-19
As you see local dental offices cancel appointment and limit their office hours, you might wonder: is dental care dangerous right now?
The answer is… kind of. COVID-19 is passed between people through aerosol droplets. These droplets are released when people cough, talk, or breathe – and they are particularly dangerous when two people are close together.
During a dental appointment, both the patient and the dental team need to be close to one another. This increases the risk for infection. Therefore, it’s safest for everyone to postpone appointments and limit contact with others.
How Hinsdale Dental is Protecting You
At Hinsdale Dental, we are working hard to ensure your safety during this difficult time. If you had an appointment schedule during this closure, we’ve reached out to reschedule it. We’re also closely complying with all sanitation guidelines issued by the CDC and ADA.
Additionally, we understand that oral health is a very important part of your comfort and well-being. Therefore, we are still taking appointments for emergency scenarios. If you knock out a tooth, break a crown, or start experiencing severe oral pain, you can contact our office. We’ll do our best to get you into our office for some immediate treatment.
What You Can Do
Our country is currently going through an unprecedented time. We’re being called upon to fight a virus, but the biggest tool in our arsenal is simply doing nothing. We’ve been asked to face boredom, monotony, and uncertainty, and some of us may feel like we should be doing more.
Here’s the thing: by staying put, you’re doing everything you can.
If we all do our best to limit social interactions, we can keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with the sick. If we protect ourselves through social distancing, face coverings in public, and other methods recommended by the CDC, we can slow – and eventually stop – the spread of COVID-19. When that happens, we’ll be able to resume life as we know it.
But as you spend your time indoors, keep this one thing in mind: it’s still important to care for your teeth. Make sure to brush twice a day, floss once a day (there’s no excuses now), and drink plenty of water throughout the day. These steps will keep your teeth strong and healthy, so you can have a beautiful smile at your first post-COVID gathering!
Learn More
You probably have questions during this trying time. We get it, and we’re here to help! You can send us an email message by clicking here, or you can call (630) 323-5200 to reach our office. While we are only making appointments for emergency care at this time, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
We look forward to seeing all of you after this quarantine period is over.
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