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When caught in the middle of a global pandemic such as COVID-19, how do you handle a dental emergency? Here, our Clarenville dentists offer you some advice on how to address your dental emergencies in these situations.
Do you have a dental emergency during COVID-19?
While much of our daily lives have been turned upside down, at least one thing remains true for both dentists and their patients: the onset of 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 you should do when you think you are experiencing a dental emergency is to determine whether or not the health issue you are experience does, in fact, require immediate attention. If you are experiencing any of the following oral health issues, call Elliott Dental Studio as soon as possible.
- Chipped, broken or knocked out tooth
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Severe swelling on your face, neck or mouth
- Sensitive teeth
- Toothache that you cannot remedy yourself with over-the-counter pain medication
New Rules & Regulations Under COVID-19
When visiting our office during a dental emergency, you'll probably notice things look a bit different than they would under normal circumstances. we have put extra protocols and precautions into place in order 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?
By this point, we all are familiar with pandemic safety rules such as social distancing. But how does that translate into your experience at your dentist's office? Here are a few actions you can take both before and during your visit to our office to help manage your dental emergency during COVID-19.
Contact us early. 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. Hold an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area.
Locate your lost tooth, if possible. If you’ve lost a tooth, try to locate it and rinse it with water. Hold the tooth in the socket it fell out of, or place it in a container of milk. Your dentist may be able to attach it.
Answer screening questions. When you contact our office, your dentist or their staff will ask you a number of pre-screening questions to learn more about whether or not you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do, we will either refer you to another office better equipped to handle your condition or make alternative arrangements.
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.
Respect social distancing guidelines. We will provide you with an appointment as soon as we are able. If you need to wait in our waiting room, you'll find we have placed chairs 2 metres apart. We have also removed magazines and other non-essential items as we try and reduce the number of touchable surfaces.
Expect your dentist to wear protective gear. In addition to surgical face masks, your dentist and their staff will wear personal protective equipment during in-person appointments.
Attend your appointment alone. Make sure you plan to attend your appointment alone, if possible. We make exceptions to this for children or people that require assistance.
Pay via touchless payment. Plan to pay any balance owing on your appointment with your credit card or debit card.