No cases of COVID-19 traced to dental offices so far
Despite the potential risks, the good news is that both the World Health Organization and the CDC say there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 transmitted in a dental office so far. And that includes follow-up by the CDC of news reports suggesting such infections.
And yet, dentists know at least some patients continue to be worried enough to stay away, even if they’re in pain or overdue for important procedures such as gum surgery. Our office is about as safe as you can get, which is a derivative of the infection controls implemented decades ago during the HIV period in the ‘80’s. Now as then, there have been no cases of infection traced back to a dental office.
Unfortunately for us, weekly surveys by the American Dental Association of dental practices nationwide consistently find that our volume of patients has only reached 65% to 70% of pre-COVID-19 levels as of July.
Delaying checkups or care for dental pain can potentially turn a small cavity into a root canal or tooth extraction and add to treatment time, higher costs and even more pain. And in rare cases, missing out on dental care can result in serious infections and even certain problems involving your global health.
You need to know that protecting the health of others working in the office is paramount to our entire team. Technically, it’s the dentist and staff that are at risk, because we are not sure where the patients have been and who they have been in contact with. So please understand we take an abundance of caution according to the guidelines when it comes to treating our patients and making sure our team is also safe.
Please note, that we all have important responsibilities as patients, too, to let our staff know before or on the day of the appointment if you’re feeling sick in any way. We’re all in this together — if you’re sick, stay home. But if you’re healthy don’t miss your opportunity to stay healthy by maintaining your oral health. Contact us for you much needed care.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
ZoAnna Bock, MS, DMD
Hanna, Orland, DMD
Howard Abrahams, DDS
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-256-3620
And
3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Chamblee, GA 30341
770-455-6076
the right smile 