Now is not the time to delay dental care!

I speak daily about the health of our mouths and how it affects our overall health.  I am passionate about educating people on this topic.  There is continual research on various aspects of health linking dental health to overall health.  A recent study from researchers in Great Britain shows a link between poor oral hygiene and the severity of a person's body responding to COVID-19.  The researchers found risk factors associated with a poor outcome of the disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.  Poor oral health, periodontal diseaes, increases the liklihood of becoming susceptible to these diseases.  The researchers studied periodontal disease and found high bacterial load in the mouth and post viral complications.  Improving oral health may reduce the risk of complications from COVID-19.  Poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of inter-bacterial exchange between the lungs and the mouth , increasing the risk of respiratory infections and potentially post-viral bacterial complications.  The researchers in the study concluded oral hygiene must be maintained and improved during a covid-19 infection in order to reduce the bacterial load in the mouth and the potential rise of bacterial super infection.

The WHO has made the suggestion of delaying "routine"dental visits.  It is not "just a cleaning" it is an integral part to your overall health especially during this time of COVID-19.  The WHO sites the unknown risk of aerosols generated in a dental office.  We also are concerned about aerosols and have taken steps necessary to keep our patients and team safe. In our office we follow the highest standards of infection control.  We currently do not use aerosols generating instruments during hygiene visits.  We have designated hygiene days and restorative days.  When performing a restorative procedure we use an intraoral high speed evacutaion system which eliminates over 90% of aerosols.  We have air filtration systems in each treatment room. Our air filtration system contains a PECO filter with destroys virus particles .  We have all the proper PPE .  The most important part of our infection control is our screening process with our questionaire and in-office non-touch temperature checks.  We have amazing patients that trust us and we trust our patients.  If a patient has been exposed to covid through a workplace setting or a family member they notify our office and we reschedule their visit.  We go even further by limiting patient to team interactions by having a no contact front office.  We extend appointment times to avoid any patient to patient contact. We have always been an "on-time" office so there is no waiting in a reception area.

This is not the time to neglect your dental health.  As always we are here to be your partners in complete dental health.  Please watch our safety protocol video on our website or youtube channel.  Know that you are safe in our office and please refer family and friends confident they are in a safe, caring environment.