3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Let COVID-19 Delay Your Dental Appointment

If you’ve ever gotten a phone call from your dentist’s office to schedule your next checkup but put it off due to anxiety, you’re not alone. As many as 20 percent of Americans battle dental anxiety to the point that they avoid regular preventive checkups. That number has almost definitely increased in the time of COVID-19. Many people are worried that it’s not safe to see a dentist, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, checkups and cleanings are even more important these days. Here are three reasons why you shouldn’t let COVID-19 delay your appointment with your dentist in Hammonton.

1. Even Before COVID-19, Your Dentist’s Office Has Always Been Safe

Dental practices have always followed strict health and safety measures set by OSHA and the ADA (American Dental Association). Since the mouth is a gateway to the rest of the body, dental offices must be incredibly clean in order to eliminate the risk of germs entering patients’ mouths. Dentists have always followed numerous cleanliness practices such as meticulously disinfecting their tools after each use and wearing fresh PPE (personal protective equipment) such as face masks and gloves for each patient. In short, dentists’ offices have always been one of the cleanest places you could be.

2. Your Dentist Is Taking Even More Precautions These Days

Ever since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the ADA and the CDC have given dental offices some additional safety guidelines to protect patients and team members from the risk of infection. Some of these include having patients wait in their cars instead of the reception area, pre-screening the health of every patient and team member, and thoroughly sanitizing every operatory between patients.

3. Regular Dental Visits Are Crucial to Maintaining Excellent Overall Health

Without a cleaning every six months, plaque and tartar build up in your mouth and contribute to infections in your gums and teeth. Gum disease in particular, which affects about half of American adults at some point in their lives, has been linked to an increased risk of developing medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Both of these conditions can worsen complications of COVID-19. Not to mention, when your immune system is too busy combatting an infection in your mouth, it’s not as effective at fighting infection in other body parts. This would make complications much worse if you were to catch COVID-19.

While dental appointments might seem frivolous during a pandemic, they’re actually anything but. Don’t hesitate to call your dentist and schedule your next checkup. Rest assured that you’ll be completely safe while under their care.

About the Author

Dr. David G. Crescenzo is a dentist in Hammonton, NJ who completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1990 at Georgetown Dental School. Nothing is more important to him than the health and safety of his patients, which is why his practice has implemented 19 advanced safety protocols to set his patients’ minds at ease. To learn more about why routine dental care is still important in a pandemic, visit Dr. Crescenzo’s website or call 609-561-0058.