How to Find a Dentist Open During Coronavirus
NEW YORK, February 3, 2021 (Newswire.com) - Many states have allowed for dental care, including non-urgent treatments, to continue on even as other businesses are locked down. Dentistry is essential medical care, and avoiding treatment for dental problems for many months can lead to worse problems down the line, so many dentists are encouraging patients to come back to the office.
However, that hasn't stopped people from having concerns about heading back to the dentist during COVID-19. Here's how to find the right dentist that's remaining open and can put your concerns at ease.
If you have a current dentist, reach out
If you have an existing relationship with a dentist, they're your best first resource. If their offices are still closed or only open for certain procedures, they'll be able to refer you to a dentist they trust who is open and operating. It's likely your dentist will even be equipped to help you find another dentist that takes your dental insurance.
If your dentist is open but you're worried about ensuring that your visit is as safe as possible, read on.
How to find an open dentist
To find a currently open dentist near you, a great place to start is the ADA's Find-A-Dentist tool, which lets you search by location and specialty. You may also be able to search directly through your insurance, which will have the benefit of directing you only to in-network dentists. Your state dental society should also have resources available on which dentists are currently open.
If you're worried about the cost of dental care, you may be able to find assistance from a dental society or a dental school clinic. All care done by dental students is supervised by fully licensed dentists and can come at a heavily reduced cost.
Know what questions to ask
Nearly a year into the pandemic, dentists have adopted a variety of tools to help make dental care safer in a Coronavirus context. These include behind-the-scenes changes, new ways of using tools you may be familiar with, and small changes that may impact your experience.
For instance, if you're worried about whether or not a dental concern is urgent, many dentists are offering video consults for preliminary screenings. This can be a great way to evaluate whether or not your issue is worth an immediate trip into the office, or if it can be safely put on pause.
Many offices are also spacing out their appointments to ensure a limited number of people is in the office at one time. As there is an inherent limit to how much dentistry can be done while wearing a mask or six feet apart, keeping spaces as empty as possible has become a popular and easy adaptation.
Behind the scenes, dentists may be using new sanitation and air filtration tools both between patients and in constant circulation. Although face masks aren't new to dental offices, both masks and suction tools are seeing increased use to reduce unnecessary spray. Ask about what they've done to minimize COVID-19 risks in the office to see how any specific office has changed their procedures.
Source: iQuanti, Inc.