GOING TO SEE THE DENTIST? HERE’S THE DRILL ON WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE PANDEMIC ERA
Appointment now means fewer people, more layers and, possibly, a new tool or two
Even if you’ve read about all the safety precautions dentists are taking to protect themselves and their patients in the new COVIDWARY environment, you’re probably still more reluctant than usual to make a date with the chair. And you’re not alone. According to a June 15 survey by the American Dental Association, patient volume is at 65 percent of PRE-COVID-19 levels (although that’s up markedly from the 38 percent of normal patient traffic reported in mid-may).
I, too, was in the “thanksbut-no” camp, having successfully shunted off, for nearly an entire calendar quarter, a long-scheduled dental cleaning. Then, in early June, barely two weeks after my dentist reopened her practice for nonemergency procedures, a throbbing back left molar had me gritting my teeth, biting the bullet and opening wide. And guess what?
Although there were some procedural differences — and a whole lot of safety signage on display — it wasn’t markedly different than it had been before. Because no one needs the new fear of the unknown layered on top of the fear of the dentist’s office, I decided to make my (oral) pain be your gain and walk you through my experience.
Although your dentist’s protocols and procedures may vary a bit from those of mine, at a minimum, any dentist you go to should be following the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines for Resuming Deferred and Preventive Dental Care.(if they’re not, it’s time for a new dentist.)
It took (just a little) longer
The amount of time I sat in the dental chair didn’t change much, but you should expect the entire visit to lengthen by as much as half an hour. That’s how much additional time my dentist, Dr. Jamielynn Hanam-jahr
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