Your Winnipeg Invisalign® Provider
Do you have a dental emergency during COVID-19?
Much of our lives have been turned upside down thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but one thing remains constant for dentists and patients: dental emergencies.
But how do you handle a dental emergency safely during these times, while respecting social distancing guidelines? Today, we’ll share a few tips.
Understand your emergency situation
The first thing to do is to determine whether you have an urgent dental emergency that needs a dentist’s immediate attention. If you’re experiencing any of the following, call us right away:
- Chipped, broken or knocked out tooth
- Sensitive teeth
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Teething
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Toothache that you cannot remedy yourself with over-the-counter pain medication
- Severe swelling on your face, neck or mouth
New Rules & Regulations Under COVID-19
If you visit our office during a dental emergency, you’ll likely notice it looks a little different than it does under normal circumstances, and that protocols and extra precautions are in place to keep our staff and patients safe.
If you have a dental emergency, you can rest assured that we are equipped to manage it safely. Learn more about our COVID-19 protocols here.
How should I handle a dental emergency during a global pandemic such as COVID-19?
By now, we have all become familiar with the idea of social distancing and safety guidelines, but how does that translate to the dentist’s office? Despite the fact that restrictions have become more lenient, here are a few actions you can take:
Contact us early. Don’t hesitate to call if you are experiencing a dental emergency. We can provide advice over the phone and get you in as soon as possible. Bookmark this post, or type "dentist near me" into your favourite search engine and our information will likely pop up.
Apply ice. Hold an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area.
Locate your lost tooth. If you have a tooth that has fallen out, try to locate it and rinse it with water. Hold the tooth in the socket it fell out of, or place it in a container of milk. Your dentist may be able to re-attach it.
Answer screening questions honestly. When you contact our office, your dentist or their staff will ask you pre-screening questions to learn whether you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do, we can refer you to another office or make alternate arrangements.
Wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer. Wearing a face mask and using 70 to 90 percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering or leaving the building are two precautions to take.
Respect social distancing guidelines. We will get you an appointment as soon as possible. If you do need to wait in the waiting room, you’ll find chairs spaced 2 metres apart. There will be no magazines or other non-essential items as we try to reduce the number of touchable surfaces.
Dentists will wear protective gear. In addition to surgical face masks, your dentist and their staff will wear personal protective equipment during in-person appointments.
Don't bring other people to your appointment. To limit the spread of illness, you might want to consider attending your appointment alone (exceptions are made for children or people who require assistance).
Pay with contactless payment. Plan to pay any balance owing on your appointment with your credit card or debit card.