Dental Care is Essential to Achieve Optimal Overall Health

We are continuing to diligently employ all the sterilization and infection controls we have always had in place. Additionally, we have added disposable gowns as needed for our clinical team, face shields, and medical-grade HEPA13 air filtration throughout the office. As your trusted health care partner, our goal is to do everything possible to support you (and your family) during these stressful and confusing times.

Delaying dental care can be costly, not just to your wallet, but it can create complications. Dental issues that are left to time and further degradation will likely result in a more progressed state. Many times, this is what triggers the unpredictable event of a dental emergency. As dentists, we know how to stop this from happening; it is just what we do. We want your oral health to be more predictable.

In these confusing times, maximizing your oral health will impact your overall health. Best of all, we can combine treatments in one visit to our office. Our advanced CEREC ® dental technology allows our dentists to perform cosmetic treatments and restorative procedures in one visit to our Burlington, NC office. The same-day procedures will reduce your visits to the dentist. You leave our office with a permanent restoration that matches your natural teeth.

For patients that the CDC has defined as at-risk, minimizing your time and maximizing your oral health is especially important.

How important is maintaining my oral health?

The health of your teeth and mouth are integral to your overall physiology and well-being. From a clinical perspective, early treatment is always best. Putting off discomfort with a tooth or any concern about your oral health is more time-consuming and costly in the long run.

What safety measures are in place in the dental practice?

In addition to the strict guidelines we have always followed in operatories, we are paying close attention to office areas where social distancing is essential, like reception areas, administrative counters, and restrooms, which are closely monitored and disinfected throughout the day. From the regular hygiene appointments you missed during the shutdowns to more complex procedures that have you a bit concerned, we have your back — because we are all part of the same effort to keep our communities healthy. Examples of safety equipment enhancements:

• Minimized aerosols
• Face shields
• Top-of-the-line masks

How do I minimize my time at the dentist but maximize my oral health?

To minimize your time at the dentist, you want to work with our dental team to understand how you can group parts of your treatment to spend less time in the dental chair yet maximize treatment benefits. Doing this will minimize the trips to and from the office and the amount of time you spend in the chair. Ask your dental team how.

Can you make this affordable for me?

Our dental team is prepared to provide you with options for consolidating treatment into as few visits as possible, in addition to financial arrangements that you’re comfortable with. Just ask us how we can help!

I fall in the COVID-19 at-risk category. How do you make sure I am safe and healthy?

If you’re 65 or older or suffer from pre-existing conditions, it’s crucial to limit your exposure – so we recommend working with our dental team to address treatment most safely and efficiently possible.

What about the interim guidance from the WHO on August 3rd?

We have fully supported the World Health Organization’s (WHO) position during the pandemic. The Aug. 3 article from the WHO sparked additional articles from other news outlets. Several news outlets wrote headlines to grab the publics’ attention. However, it did not match the interim guidance provided by the WHO.

The “WHO advises that routine non-essential oral health care – which usually includes oral health check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care – be delayed until there has been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates from community transmission to cluster cases or according to official recommendations at national, sub-national, or local level. The same applies to esthetic dental treatments.”

That part in italics puts a whole new spin on the WHO recommendation that is aimed at the planet, not at the U.S. alone. We follow this recommendation and the mandates, recommendations, and guidelines of national, state, and local authorities. Also, the American Dental Association responded to the WHO stating that Dentistry is Essential Health Care.

We remain committed to protecting everyone, especially vulnerable patients in at-risk categories, through the guidelines stated in the article and applied in compliance with the CDC and the ADA recommendations.