What do you do if you have a dental emergency during a pandemic like COVID-19? Our Abbotsford dentists offer their advice.
Do you have a dental emergency during COVID-19?
Though things are slowly returning to a sense of normalcy, there are still certain safety protocols to follow if you're having a dental emergency during a pandemic. Today, we’ll share a few tips.
Define your emergency
The first thing to do is to determine whether you have an urgent dental emergency that needs a dentist’s immediate attention. If you’re experiencing any of the following, call us right away:
- Chipped, broken or knocked-out tooth
- Toothache that you cannot remedy yourself with over-the-counter pain medication
- Severe swelling on your face, neck or mouth
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Sensitive teeth that are causing you significant distress
New Rules & Regulations Under COVID-19
If you visit our office during a dental emergency, you’ll likely notice it looks somewhat different than it does under normal circumstances, and that protocols and extra precautions are in place 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 now, we’re all familiar with pandemic safety rules, but how does that translate to the dentist’s office? Here are a few actions you can take:
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 to call us or keep the information of the nearest dentist who offers emergency services on hand.
Apply ice. Hold an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area.
Locate the lost tooth. 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 pre-screening questions to learn whether you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do, we can refer you to another office or make alternate 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 get you an appointment as soon as possible. If you do need to wait in the waiting room, you’ll find chairs spaced 2 metres apart. There will be no magazines or other non-essential items as we try to reduce the number of touchable surfaces.
Dentists will 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. Plan to attend your appointment alone (exceptions are made for children or people who require assistance).
Pay via touchless payment. Plan to pay any balance owing on your appointment with your credit card or debit card.