Oral health is still a priority, even during the COVID-19 crisis. If you have a dental emergency and have been diagnosed with the virus or been exposed to someone with it, it is essential to stay home and call because we can still assist you over the phone.
Emergencies include:
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Tissue injury
- Tooth abscess (or associated toothache)
All regular checkups and exams are essential in maximizing your immune system, and we encourage you to continue these critical assessments with our dentist in NW Calgary.
Although you should stay home if you show signs and symptoms of this virus, you are still welcome and supported to come in if you aren’t. We want to ensure you feel safe and comfortable, so we have changed a few things.
- Before your appointment, you will receive a phone call where our receptionist will ask you some screening questions. If you answer yes to any of them, we request that you hold off your appointment until you have been cleared of all symptoms.
- We have closed the waiting room. When you arrive at your appointment, please remain in your vehicle until your appointment time. When you come in, please limit your personal belongings to only necessities.
- It would help to wash/sanitize your hands before and after your appointment with our emergency dentist in NW Calgary at our designated station.
- Your check-out will happen in the exam room, with everything being brought to you to limit contact and contamination.
Our team has high standards regarding sanitization, but we have to take special precautions to guarantee those guidelines and maintain a clean and sanitized workstation. We have increased our efforts throughout the rest of the clinic.
It can be scary to go out when there is so much uncertainty and fear of catching the virus. Good oral health is vital for your overall health and immune system. Your mouth’s health can affect your immune system, making you more suspectable and weaker if you catch the virus. We tend to breathe through our mouths more with respiratory illness. Breathing through the mouth causes our mouths to dry out quicker, and a dry mouth is much more susceptible to becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. You risk developing gum disease and tooth decay if not adequately removed during brushing and flossing.
If you have a cold or symptoms of coronavirus, stay hydrated by keeping water or juice handy at all times. Even taking small sips to keep your mouth wet helps. Sugar-free cough drops and gum are useful for stimulating the saliva glands and keeping your mouth moist.
Also, keeping your toothbrush separate at home and replacing it if you have been sick is important. Remember to wash your hands before and after flossing, and never share a rinse cup or mouthwash with anyone else.
Humidifiers are a great option to keep the air in your home from drying out too much, and a saline solution can help your nasal passage from drying out. You can find humidifiers at local drugstores or online on websites such as Amazon.
If you would like to book a regular checkup or suffer from a dental emergency, contact our dental clinic in NW Calgary. The team at Valley Ridge Dental Centre would be happy to help you. Our emergency dentist near you is here to provide you with quality dental treatment you can trust.