Dental Care and COVID-19: What You Should Know

In March 2020, dental clinics across America — including our clinic — responded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to prioritize emergency dental care, while postponing elective care, routine cleanings, and other nonessential procedures.  But now, as states are re-opening, we know that you have many questions and concerns regarding dental care and COVID-19.

Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro of The Dental Center of Hercules is here today to help answer all of your questions so that you can feel confident receiving dental care.

Here’s what you need to know:

Keeping up with oral care during the pandemic

Even in these uncertain times, it’s important to keep up with your oral health. That means brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and consuming healthy foods and drinks. Good oral care also means receiving regular dental cleanings per the American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines. 

You can also support your oral health by seeking treatment at the first sign of trouble — like bleeding gums.

We are here to serve you and help you maintain good oral health even during the pandemic. 

Is it safe?

Delaying dental care can cause small problems to escalate. For example, a mild toothache might develop into a painful abscess. We want you to get the dental care you need, and we’re following the CDC guidelines to help keep you safe during your visit to our office. 

Both the CDC and ADA advocate for increased disinfection of surfaces and tools, regular monitoring of both staff and patients for signs of illness (including fever), and increasing usage of personal protective equipment. 

Here’s what we’re doing:

• Disinfecting tools — and surfaces — more often
• Increasing the time between patients to allow us to clean and disinfect — and prevent crowding in our office
• Asking you to limit the number of people that come with you to an appointment
• Asking all patients to avoid coming in if previously exposed to the coronavirus, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or simply feeling ill 
• Monitoring the health of all of our staff 
• Monitoring patients for signs of fever prior to treatment
• Eliminating common use items from our waiting area
• Communicating our strategies to both staff and patients 

In addition, the CDC encourages all individuals to watch for the symptoms of COVID-19, maintain good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, and wearing a mask when in crowded or public places.

What to do if you need dental care

At The Dental Center of Hercules, we understand that this is a confusing time, but as advocates for your oral health, we want you to feel confident and empowered to get the dental care you need. Whether you have a toothache or signs of gum disease, rest assured that we’re following all recommended guidelines to keep you and our entire Hercules, California, community safe.

Contact our office today at 510-254-3328. You can also schedule an appointment on our website today.