COVID-19 impact on dentistry
There has been a lot of appropriate focus and concern regarding COVID-19 patients and the consequences of our health systems. “Flattening the curve” and social distancing is critical to delaying the spread and preventing our hospitals from being overrun.
However, in the shadow of this are other health-care related waves growing in the background.
There are many issues and conditions not being addressed or left untreated. And many patients are delaying treatment or care due to health care office closures. We are seeing more and more patients hold off on various treatments due to not only our lack of ability to service them currently, but more importantly, the fear surrounding the “unknown”.
Many of my own patients have emailed or called, asking questions about safety around coming back to dental offices. But many have experienced pain, infection, swelling, broken or chipped teeth, and we are not able to help them properly due to severe restrictions on delivering appropriate care.
As we await the instructions of the Ministry of Health and our own governing body, my fear is that many patients will get worse, and will end up with bigger and more expensive issues by the time we do get back to our office.
It’s time to do something about it. With the introduction of ‘tele-dentistry’, our governing body has allowed online consultations to take place so that we can help our patients immediately in the interim. As we return back to work post-COVID, there will still be many restrictions for some time, so the online consultations will allow dentists to screen and triage patients to allow immediate treatment and information regarding what to do next. As we learn about your particular situation through a one-on-one discussion online, we can narrow down the issue, give you information on what it could be and how it could be treated or restored, and allow you to make decisions PRIOR to coming into the office. So by the time you arrive at the office and find out what the issue is, you will already know what you are having done.
I am actually really excited about this because the consultations I have already had with some patients allowed the patient to express any concerns or issues one-on-one so I can answer, guide, and help understand your own particular situation even before you come into the office. That helps eliminate fear of the “unknown” as well as cost because I can discuss all that with you during this consultation. And in the cases where my patient simply needs a prescription, it saves you time because you don’t have to come into the office; I can simply call in a prescription to your drugstore, and you can even have it delivered. So you get a real dentist’s advice, and you don’t even have to leave your home.
If you currently have symptoms or concerns about your oral health, don’t wait until it’s too late. Seek out a consultation with your dentist so that you can have information about how to prevent or treat your problem before it gets out of hand.
Contact us for your Oakville dentistry
If you have any questions about tele-dentistry or online consultations, do not hesitate to contact me at agatha@smilesbybis.com. Your safety and the safety of my team is my top priority.