Is it Safe to Go to the Dentist During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Posted in Practice News, Preventive Dental Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our daily lives in many ways. It is not uncommon for people to question if visiting the dentist is a safe activity in which to partake right now. According to a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), dental offices may actually be one of the better places to go in terms of risk/benefit ratio during the pandemic compared with other types of businesses and services. Researchers also surveyed retail stores, gyms, cafes, auto repair shops, and places of worship for this study. The results showed that dental offices, banks, and financial institutions have good risk/benefit profiles, which generally means that they are “worth going to” despite the potential risks. More details about this fascinating study can be found here. 

Dental practices adopted effective and comprehensive safety precautions even before the pandemic. For example, dental professionals have been wearing masks and gloves when treating patients for decades. Here at Sutra Dental Spa, we have made additions to our already strict sanitation and safety protocols to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Some of the requirements we have implemented include:

• Patients must reschedule their appointments if they have a fever or are feeling symptoms of any type of illness.
• Patients must wear a mask or facial covering that goes over their nose, mouth, and chin upon arrival at our practice.
• Patients must come to their appointment alone to reduce the number of people in the office at once.
• Patients and staff must do their best to keep a minimum distance of six feet apart from other guests as recommended by the local, state, and federal health authorities. 
• The dental office must have hand sanitizer available in multiple spots so that patients can readily utilize it.
• The dental staff must do its best in terms of scheduling to limit the number of patients in the reception area.

Patient comfort and safety have always been a priority to us, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our dental team continues to stay informed about the current recommendations from the CDC and ADA to make sure that our patients and staff are healthy.  If you have any questions or concerns about our safety measures or would like to schedule an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact our office.