In August, the World Health Organization recommended that people only go to the dentist for dental emergencies  to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not ordered practices throughout the country to close down as they had previously. Dental offices in most states can still provide patients with elective treatment.

There aren’t many smiling faces around right now — and it’s not because of the face masks. COVID-19 is causing huge levels of sadness, stress and anxiety all around the world, and it’s not surprising. For the past few months, hardly anything has been certain, a situation which has taken a great toll on everyone.

Technically, the answer to this question is yes. Research has revealed that masks are very effective in preventing viral diseases, but only in people who wear them correctly.

When COVID-19 ravaged the country in March, dental practices were largely shut down, except for emergency procedures. Now, as the country steadily reopens, dental offices are starting to get back to business; however, under firmer health and safety guidelines

There has always been some risk of dental professionals and patients coming into contact with an infectious disease in the dental practice. But following COVID-19, the danger of contracting a disease is greater than ever before. Following the CDC’s guidelines and providing only urgent treatment is an option. But there’s only so long you can do that until you’re forced to dive into your savings so deep that you can never resurface.

A report published in the California Healthline towards the end of July showed that doctors and dental offices are still affected by COVID-19 job losses several months into the pandemic. While the industry recovered some jobs lately, employment in medical outpatient care in June remained 7 percent below pre-COVID levels. 

Elective and non-urgent dental procedures are now being carried out across the country. Without a shred of doubt, dentists and dental practice owners are happy about this. They believe many of their patients are grateful they are back open, too. However, it is not back to business as usual. There are new mandated policies, protocols, and changes to be implemented to protect all involved. 

States throughout the country have allowed dental practices to reopen for elective treatment. While this is great news for many practice owners, some dental staff are experiencing high levels of anxiety about returning to work. Although dental practices are doing everything they can to mitigate the spread of infection, dental professionals are still some of the most at-risk people of contracting the virus.

Nothing has been the same since COVID-19. And until a reliable treatment for the virus becomes publicly available, it’s very possible that dental practices will continue to struggle with the problems they originally faced back in March when the pandemic first started. From equipment shortages and lack of patients to losing staff and major state restrictions, it looks like these big challenges are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

As a result of the ongoing pandemic, dentists and their staff must observe a set of safety measures before they can see patients.

As of June 19, every US state has given dental offices permission to reopen following the COVID-19 outbreak for any type of procedure. Dental practices in Texas were able to return to full dental practices much earlier on May 1.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is still a very real threat, it’s not surprising that patients are nervous about visiting the dentist. But there’s only so long they can put off their next dental appointment before they start doing themselves some serious damage. Help encourage your patients to return to your practice by making their next visit as pleasant and enjoyable as possible with the following tips.   

Due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, many people across all industries are finding themselves without a job. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself or waiting for everything to blow over, now is a great time to get ahead of the competition and build an amazing resume that will help you land your dream job.

We are at the midst of a crisis. Positive cases of COVID-19 seem to be rising each new day, and everybody is greatly affected by this pandemic. For nearly two months, businesses, including dental practices, were in lockdown to prevent the disease from spreading.

Not taking care of your oral health can leave you with something a lot worse than bad teeth. From diabetes to cardiovascular disease, neglecting dental hygiene can result in all kinds of dangerous health conditions, including COVID-19.

In March 2020, ADA recommended that dentists postpone all elective procedures to stop the spread of COVID-19. As the pandemic gets more under control, dental surgeries throughout the US are reopening their practices for routine care. Texas, Colorado, Illinois and Georgia are just some of the current 42 states where dental offices are open for elective procedures.

Even during these uncertain times, one thing’s for sure — dentistry is never going to be the same again. After the coronavirus severely impacted countries throughout the world, it became clearer than ever the importance of having strict safety protocols in the healthcare industry and making sure they’re enforced.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, dentists and healthcare care providers should remain informed about the best clinical practices to counter this pandemic.