4 Reasons to Visit Your Emergency Dentist Instead of an ER During COVID-19

If you find yourself in the midst of a dental emergency, it can be difficult to have to make the decision of whether to visit your local ER or your emergency dentist in Rochester. If you’re experiencing a life-threatening situation, such as difficulty breathing and swallowing or a broken or fractured jaw, you’ll need medical attention before your dentist can address your dental problems. However, for most other situations, your emergency dentist’s office is the safest place you can get treated during COVID-19, and here’s why.

Get the Specialized Care You Need

Dentists are able to provide you with specialized treatments that will both fix your oral health problem as well as prevent it from re-developing down the road. They’ve received facial-focused training and education that allows them to identify the root of even the most complicated dental situations. If you visit the ER for care, they’re likely to stabilize you, make sure you’re in no immediate danger, but not provide you with the care you need to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

Less Trafficked Treatment Facilities

Your emergency dentist’s office is pre-screening patients before they visit their office and heavily controlling the flow of traffic throughout the day, allowing their staff time to thoroughly sanitize waiting areas and treatment rooms between patients. Plus, because dentists at the moment are solely focused on providing emergency care and have postponed all elective procedures, they’re able to easily limit the traffic through their office, decreasing the risk of exposure. However, because emergency rooms are so overwhelmed at the moment due to COVID-19, it’s more difficult for them to control the environment.

Frequently Sterilized & Controlled Facilities

Reminiscent to the statements made above, emergency dentists are thoroughly following the CDC’s safety guidelines to make sure that their facilities are safe for their patients as well as their staff. Not only are they frequently and regularly sanitizing any areas that patients and staff come into contact with, but they’re also following strict hand hygiene practices recommended by the CDC as well as wearing PPE to reduce the risk of droplet exposure during treatments.

Less Exposure Risk to Illness

Overall, the biggest reason to visit your emergency dentist in Rochester instead of your ER for a dental situation is due to the fact that the environment is more predictable and less busy. Emergency rooms are already incredibly overwhelmed treating COVID-19 patients, emergency medical patients, and even seeing people with colds and the flu who believe they’re exhibiting signs of COVID-19. With the influx of patients that they’re needing to treat, seeking care from your specialist is the best bet for everybody.

If you’re worried about whether you need medical attention or not, you can always contact your dentist in Rochester and ask for their advice on the situation. Many dentists are also providing over-the-phone and virtual diagnoses for patients in order to limit the number of people seeking urgent attention.

About the Author

Dr. Joseph Vollo is passionate about getting to know his patients and being able to provide them with high-quality and pain-relieving emergency dental care. He completed his post-doctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry so he could better serve his patients. There, he gained advanced training in a fast-paced hospital atmosphere. For questions or to schedule an emergency appointment during the COVID-19 crisis, visit Vollo Dental Group’s website or call 585-225-9114.