Please call your MDA dentist for their opening hours and to schedule care. To ensure safety during the pandemic, MDA member dentists put new protocols in place and stay informed of the latest safety guidelines. As they welcome patients back to their offices, our members are excited to do what they love—treating all their patients!
MDA Dentists Care About Your Health
We understand. Some folks may be nervous about resuming regular activities—including going to the dentist. MDA member dentists are here to reassure you that with each patient they see, they’re taking extra precautions to minimize exposure to illness and to protect everyone’s health.
What to Expect When You Go Back to the Dentist
The next time you go to the dentist, things will look a little different than you may remember. Knowing what to expect at your dental visit can help many patients—especially kids—feel more comfortable at their appointment. Below, we’ve outlined some new measures MDA dentists may have put in place for everyone’s well-being.
Your Visual Guide to Dental Visits
From pre-screening to follow-up, here’s a step-by-step guide of what to expect at your next dental visit:
How Dental Care & Office Staff Help Keep You Healthy
Daily Health Checks
Including temperature readings & COVID-19 symptom screenings
Hand Hygiene
Increased handwashing & hand sanitizer use
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Full PPE for providers; masks for office staff
Staying Informed
Of the latest research & infection control guidelines
Before Your Visit
Scheduling Options
May be limited to allow for extra disinfection & social distancing
COVID-19 Screening
Phone questionnaire the day before your visit
Ask Questions
It’s always okay to ask questions about what to expect at your visit
At-Risk Patients
Reminded to check in over the phone & wait in the car
When You Arrive
Masks
Requesting that you must wear a mask upon arrival
Temperature Check
For everyone entering the dental office
Hand Sanitizer
Clean your hands on the way in
COVID-19 Screening
Questionnaire — bring your own pen or pencil
Waiting Room & Shared Spaces
New Layouts
Chairs removed, dividers put up for social distancing
Fewer Things to Touch
Toys, magazines, & reading materials removed
Daily Cleaning
Waiting rooms & bathrooms disinfected daily
Less Crowded
Limited to caregivers & patients only
Treatment Room & Dental Team
Cleaned between Patients
Room disinfected & protective coverings replaced
Sterile Equipment
MDA dentists only use sterile tools & equipment
Fewer Items
Non-essential items removed from treatment room
Dental Care PPE
Face shield or eye protection & mask; gowns or jackets; gloves
After Your Visit
Your Follow-up
May be fewer appointment options available
Hand Sanitizer
Don’t forget to clean your hands on the way out
Report Symptoms
Any COVID-19 symptoms occurring within 2 days of visit
Care for Your Smile
Good dental hygiene habits help keep you healthy
Your Health First—MDA Dentists Always Practice Infection Control
As dental professionals, MDA member dentists are highly trained in infection control measures. In fact, they’ve followed and enforced strict INFECTION CONTROL PROTOCOLS for decades. Now, your MDA dentist is taking these practices even further to help reduce the risk of illness, including coronavirus exposure.
Some of these measures include:
- COVID-19 symptom screening for all patients and staff
- Enhanced infection control protocol
- Use of additional personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Enforcing social distancing in waiting areas
- Reducing the number of patients in the dental practice at any given time
- Staying up-to-date on the latest guidelines from the CDC, ADA, MDA, and other agencies
Going Back to the Dentist—Answers to Your FAQs
Call your MDA dentist and schedule an appointment. When left untreated, minor problems can easily become urgent dental care matters. Postponing necessary dental care for too long can negatively impact your dental health and your overall health.
If your appointment has not already been rescheduled, we encourage you to call and schedule a dental appointment. For your oral health, it’s important to continue with the treatment plan you and your dentist decided upon. Patients with certain oral health conditions, including gum disease, and those with orthodontics should return to their regular appointment schedule to prevent future complications.
If you had to delay care of any kind during the shutdown, MDA dentists don’t recommend further delaying dental care—even routine exams and regular cleanings. Why? Your dental health and overall health are linked. When one is impacted, so is the other. Routine dental care helps you stay on top of your oral and overall health.
At-risk patients should call and discuss their specific concerns with their MDA dentist. For some patients, dentists may suggest additional preventative measures, including checking-in and waiting in your car until your appointment time.
Most patients with preexisting conditions who are considered “high-risk,” should still seek dental care. Chronic illnesses and poor overall health negatively impact dental health. MDA dentists closely monitor patients with chronic conditions and provide necessary treatments to help prevent complications associated with these illnesses.
It’s okay to call and ask questions!
Patients can always call and ask about oral health matters, office infection control protocol, and more. Your MDA dentist and their staff are here to help you. They’re doing everything they can to keep you healthy and comfortable at every visit.
Don’t have a dentist and need treatment? Use our Find a Dentist tool to find an MDA dentist near you.