3 Big Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Postpone Your Checkup During COVID-19

Since there’s currently no cure or vaccine for COVID-19, the only way you can protect yourself and others is to minimize your potential exposure to it. Health experts around the world recommend only leaving your house for essential errands like getting groceries, picking up prescription medications, and… getting your dental checkup? While you may be considering rescheduling your biannual visit, preventive care is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are three important reasons why you shouldn’t delay your regular dental checkup because of COVID-19 and what your Midland dentist is doing to keep you safe.

1.) Spot & Stop Dental Issues Early

Your dentist’s main goal during your biannual checkups is to help you stop oral health issues before they have a chance to start. They can carefully and thoroughly remove all the plaque and tartar that have built up in your mouth, which dramatically lowers your risk of problems like cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. Having your smile professionally cleaned and inspected every six months goes a long way in preventing dental issues from developing.

2.) Prevent Dental Emergencies & Avoid the ER

Unfortunately, most oral health problems progress without you seeing or feeling them at first. If left untreated however, simple issues like cavities and gingivitis can lead to major complications like painful dental infections and tooth loss. While your dentist can treat your dental emergencies to help you avoid the ER, keeping up with your routine dental checkups gives them the chance to identify and treat small issues before they grow into larger, painful, and more expensive conditions.

3.) A Healthy Smile Encourages a Strong Immune System

When cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues are left undiscovered and untreated, they’ll eventually trigger your body’s immune response. The unhealthier your mouth is, the more energy your immune system will spend combating easily preventable issues, which leaves it less prepared to fight off viruses like COVID-19. This in turn puts you at a higher risk of developing a serious illness if you catch COVID-19.  

Your Midland Dentist’s Commitment to Safety

Thankfully, your Midland dentist has established a variety of new COVID-19 safety precautions to safeguard your wellbeing while providing the dental care you need. A few of these new protocols include:

• Advanced COVID-19 training, daily health checks, and adequate PPE for team members.
• Sequenced appointment scheduling and virtual waiting rooms to minimize your exposure to other patients.
• Health questionnaire, no-touch temperature check, and antimicrobial rinse for every patient before their treatment.
• Disinfecting each treatment area between every patient and deep cleaning the entire practice every evening.
• New clear barriers and no magazines, toys, or activities to prevent the spread of germs.

COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our everyday lives, but it hasn’t changed the importance of your routine dental checkups. Thanks to the array of new infection control protocols, you can rest assured that your dentist is going above and beyond to ensure your safety while you get the dental care you need.  

About the Author

Dr. Laura Philipps, DMD has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After careful consideration, she has added 17 additional steps to ensure her office is as safe and germ-free as possible. Now and always, she encourages her patients to practice excellent oral hygiene and come in for their dental checkups twice a year. If you’d like to learn more about what to expect at your next dental appointment during COVID-19, additional information can be found on her website or you can call (432) 570-4433.