When the novel coronavirus struck the United States in March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recommended delaying non-essential dental procedures to avoid spreading COVID-19. Now that living with a pandemic has become the new normal, it’s time to reassess your dental care needs.
Rest assured that Simply Beautiful Smiles is open and taking appointments for dental services, including routine cleanings and emergency dental care services. Read more to learn how we’re keeping everyone in our office safe while ensuring good oral health during COVID-19.
Ensuring Staff & Patient Safety
It’s up to all of us to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Take a look at the extra precautions we’re taking to ensure the safety of everyone in our office:
- We require mandatory temperature checks for staff and patients. If you have a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19, please call to reschedule your appointment.
- We require staff to wear masks at all times. Patients should arrive wearing a mask and may remove it once seated in the dentist’s chair.
- We have staggered check-in times and a social-distanced waiting room to limit patient interactions.
- We disinfect chairs, counters, and other surfaces more frequently
- Medical grade HEPA air filtration units in every location.
Routine Dental Care & Hygiene are Still Important
The need for routine dental cleanings hasn’t gone away. Thankfully, you can visit Simply Beautiful Smiles with confidence, knowing that we’re making every effort to keep our staff and patients safe.
We recommend scheduling an appointment with us at least once every six months. Because of our temporary office closure when the COVID-19 pandemic began, your last visit may have occurred more than six months ago. This means it’s more important than ever to maintain good dental hygiene.
Here’s how to keep your teeth and gums healthy between dentist visits:
- Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss once a day to remove plaque and food particles your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Supplement your daily brushing and flossing routine with mouthwash if you wish.
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks.
- Avoid cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Dental Emergencies Can Happen Anytime
Even if you decide to postpone routine dental cleanings for the time being, you could still be impacted by a dental emergency. Here are some situations that warrant calling a dentist for a same-day emergency visit:
- Painful toothaches that don’t dissipate with over-the-counter pain relievers
- Uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth
- Face injury resulting in a chipped, cracked, or knocked-out tooth
- Broken or lost dental crowns or fillings
- Swelling, pain, and other signs of a tooth infection or abscess
The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed dental care for many families, but Simply Beautiful Smiles is here to help you get back on track. For any additional questions, contact one of our Pennsylvania or New Jersey dental offices, or request an appointment now!