Have you been delaying your dental cleaning in efforts to minimize outings and protect you and your loved ones from COVID? If so, you’re not alone! According to the CDC, by June 30th, 41% of U.S. adults had reported avoiding medical care due to concerns about COVID. While it is important to be careful and follow the proper precautions, certain medical conditions should not be ignored! Your oral health care is no exception!
As a general trend over the past few months, we have been seeing more patients for root canals and extractions, caused by cavities that were left untreated for too long. As teeth decay, the cavity is initially small in size. Typically this can be treated with a simple filling. As the decay progresses in size, it complicates the treatment, which can involve crowns, root canals, or even extraction. It is always to your benefit to have dental decay treated right away! The same goes for dental cleanings. Over time, plaque builds up around your teeth in hard-to-clean places. Over longer periods of time, the plaque hardens and turns into calculus. Calculus cannot be removed with toothpaste and a toothbrush, it must be removed by our specially-designed dental instruments. If neglected for long enough, the constant irritation to your gums by the calculus can progress into gum disease. Gum disease damages the bone that attaches to your teeth, causing loose teeth, or even tooth loss.
Since reopening in May 2020, Fountainhead Dentistry has implemented a number of new policies to make you feel safe during your appointment. Even as the CDC and the State of Maryland are relaxing their guidelines, as a healthcare facility, we are still highly cautious. All of our employees have officially been vaccinated!
Here’s a reminder of all the other changes we have implemented with your safety in mind:
- We ask that you continue to wear your mask when walking through the office. Once in your treatment room you can feel free to remove it.
- When arriving for your appointment, our staff will take your temperature and ask you confidential screening questions for COVID-19 symptoms.
- We are still not using our waiting room. When you arrive, please wait in your car and call us. We will come out to get you when it is time for your appointment.
- We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places around the office for you to use as needed.
- Our staff will continue to wear more protective equipment and will be monitored daily for illness.
- Less appointments, of longer duration, are offered per day to minimize contact with others and increase time for disinfection.
- Each treatment room has a HEPA and UV-light air purifier to decrease aerosols. We have also installed an air scrubber in our HVAC unit.
- Plexiglass barriers have been installed to protect staff and patients.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dental care or our COVID-19 precautions, please give us a call at 301-797-6950. We are always happy to chat!
