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Now more than ever, you need to be more vigilant about your health and well-being. This includes keeping up with appointments with various healthcare providers, including your dentist. Annual and biannual checkups are one way to stay on top of your health and get health issues taken care of early on before they become serious problems.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, things will likely not return to normal for a while. Fortunately, dentists have adapted to the current conditions and made it possible to receive dental services during this challenging time. New guidelines have been established for the safety of providers and patients.

Visiting The Dentist During COVID-19

Extensive precautions are being taken in dental clinics across the country, which means anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms or those who have been in contact with others with flu-like symptoms are asked not to come in. If you have a scheduled dental appointment, call the clinic to let us know, so we can reschedule your appointment 14 days into the future. If you are healthy, please arrive on time and not earlier or later than your scheduled appointment time.

The CDC has released guidelines for dental practices that include sterilization and disinfecting, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and air filtration. Aerosol-generating procedures are to be postponed if not urgent, but dental emergencies are still prioritized even during a pandemic. For instance, gum infections can spread throughout the body and need to be taken care of immediately. Therefore, if you have swelling, bleeding, discharge, or pain in your teeth or gums, call your dentist immediately for emergency dental care.

Telehealth or Teledentistry

For non-emergencies, many dental practices have made teledentistry available to patients. It allows dentists to see patients and discuss concerns over videoconference. To discuss oral health concerns, dental treatments, and get guidance and education during the pandemic, teledentistry is the perfect solution. By giving dentists the ability to see patients virtually, it limits face-to-face interactions and helps everyone social distance. Teledentistry also allows dentists to check in on their patients’ oral health, diagnose conditions, and determine whether it’s time to schedule a dental procedure based on information taken from the virtual meeting.

The aim is not to replace in-person visits but to complement them during a pandemic. For patients who are jittery and nervous about seeing a dentist, the availability of teledentistry enables them to seek advice and care from a dentist in a space that they are comfortable in.

Teledentistry in Plantation, Florida

Dr. Ernie Soto’s clinic is dedicated to providing superior dental services to patients even during the pandemic. Our clinic remains open to patients, especially for those needing emergency dental care. Rest assured, we meet the standards for safety provided by the CDC and the ADA.

If you have questions about our dental services or want to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, call Dr. Soto’s clinic at (954) 368-6264 or fill out our form online. We look forward to serving you in the safest way possible.