Why it is more important now to keep pediatric dental visits

Social distancing may be one of the recommended methods to combat Covid-19 at the present time, but visiting your dentist is actually one of the best ways of protecting yourself against a myriad of other potential health problems. Nevertheless, there are concerns that many people are postponing and delaying both routine dental appointments and necessary treatments because they have concerns about the safety of visiting their dentist. However, dental offices are in general one of the most sterile environments, and with even more stringent safety protocols in place, there has never been a better time to go to the dentist and take your children to the dentist.
 

Here’s what you need to know about why it’s important to keep pediatric dental visits now more than ever.
 

Is it safe to visit the dentist right now?

Dental practices are well aware of the safety guidance surrounding providing services during the current pandemic and are rapidly adapting the tools and techniques that they use in order to comply with them. Your safety is their priority, so they will be implementing strict protocols with regards to social distancing, sterilization and sanitization, treatment processes and the use of PPE to keep you and them safe from airborne pathogens.
 

Delaying dental visits could be putting your child’s teeth and smile at risk

Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest risks of your child not receiving the dental care that they need is that they could develop serious dental problems. Cavities are one of the most well-known dental issues and occur when sugars interact with the bacteria in the mouth to erode the teeth, causing areas of decay. Gum disease is another concern. This inflammatory condition is caused by bacteria found in plaque spreading onto the gums, causing irritation and infection. Left untreated, gum disease could put your child’s teeth at risk. 
 

Oral health is also crucial to the health and wellbeing of the rest of your body

Did you know that your oral health can have a direct impact on your overall health and wellbeing? Studies have found that there is an irrefutable link between patients with poor oral hygiene and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, liver function problems, stroke and even some types of cancer. By ensuring that your child’s teeth are as healthy as possible, you could reduce their risk of experiencing such problems in the future. Your pediatric dentist in Fort Worth is trained to spot the early signs of dental issues and regular appointments mean that your child can be closely monitored. Should any problems arise, they will be able to be diagnosed and treated promptly – before they have a negative impact on your child’s health.
 

Talk to your pediatric dentist in Fort Worth about what to expect

Many patients are understandably nervous about visiting their dentist for the first time since the pandemic started, and this anxiety can heighten when we are thinking about protecting our kids from the virus. However, your pediatric dentistry team will be happy to talk to you about the steps that they have taken to keep you and your child safe. Some of these may include:

• Pre-appointment Covid-19 questionnaires

• Waiting outside rather than in waiting rooms

• Temperature checks on arrival

• Contactless booking in

• Reduced appointment numbers

• One-way systems around the clinic

• One adult per child patient

• New and improved systems to remove water droplets or aerosols from the air

• Advanced sanitization and sterilization

• Leaving operating rooms empty for periods of time before the next patient

Every possible precaution is being taken to guard against any potential spread of the disease, and according to the CDC, at the present time, there haven’t been any reports of Covid-19 cases clustered from dental offices.

If you would like to learn more about how we have changed our working practices to continue to deliver exemplary dental care to your family, please don’t hesitate to call (817) 569-6633 to speak with the friendly team at Fort Worth's Children Dentistry.