family

The Urgency of Continued Dental Care During COVID-19

The Urgency of Continued Dental Care During COVID-19

The Urgency of Continued Dental Care During Quarantine

Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D., president of the American Dental Association, released a statement this past week urging Americans to practice safety and vigilance, but reminded everyone of the importance of regular dental work. As both a board certified dentist and medical doctor, Klemmedson has a unique perspective on the recent resurgence of COVID-19. "I was recently asked if the American Dental Association (ADA) would once again recommend that dental practices postpone all but urgent and emergency procedures as we did in March. My answer, as you can read in my statement, is that dental care should continue during the pandemic because dentistry is essential health care," he says in his statement.



According to the Center for Disease Control, there is not a single reported case of transmission of COVID-19 caused in a clinical dental setting. In other words, the precautions work. As so many healthcare bloggers and medical experts have noted, the disease may not have changed much over the last few months, but what we know about it certainly has. Lower mortality rates and more effective sanitation has helped to advance the notion that we, as a community, are better prepared to deal with the virus.



He goes on to say in his letter that patients who are concerned about getting in-person dental care should heed the encouraging data available. Less than one percent of dentists in the United States of America have reported testing positive for the coronavirus. Additionally, Klemmedson goes on to advocate for officials to consider dentistry as essential as any other essential service. To read more about the study, click here.



The ADA has also provided patients with advice regarding communication and care. This can be found here.

Dental care is closely linked with overall healthcare, and the ADA has been working tirelessly to reassure patients that necessary intermittent dental care can be conducted with no compromise of the safety of the patients and the dentists. Book your dental appointment today with Dr. Frances Chauvin by calling 337.534.8885. Coming soon.