Now is Not the Time to Ignore Your Oral Health
As we welcome patients back to see our Longmont family dentists, our team at Twin Peaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry wants to thank all of you for staying with us during this difficult time. As 2020 continues to present new and unexpected challenges, our Longmont family dentists want to reaffirm our commitment to patients that your health and safety will always remain the top priority.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its recommendation that patients delay receiving routine dental procedures until after the pandemic has subsided. While we believe the WHO’s stance comes from an abundance of caution, we completely disagree with their assessment, and we’re not alone.
The American Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentists have all issued statements that strenuously disagree with the position taken by the WHO.
Dental Care Plays an Important Role in Protecting Your Health
In a recent statement, the American Academy of Periodontology stressed the importance of maintaining gum health during the current pandemic. The AAP also stated that dentists across the country have taken significant steps to help better protect patient health and reduce potential exposure to the virus.
“It is well-established science that periodontal disease and systemic disease are interconnected. As a result, establishing and maintaining healthy teeth and gums is fundamental to overall health,” wrote Dr. Bryan Frantz, AAP president, in a statement.
Decades worth of research has clearly established a connection between our oral and overall health. Patients who deal with tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss have a significantly higher risk for developing a range of chronic health conditions that include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
Recently, studies have identified at least four underlying health conditions that increases a patient’s risk for developing a severe COVID case. (Severe cases are those that require hospitalization or that result in death.) The identified health problems associated with an increased risk of COVID complications include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
Obviously, that these diseases exhibit such an overlap means that dental care still plays a vital role in helping to protect our overall health. By avoiding dental care until after the pandemic, patients can inadvertently position their health to make it more likely they suffer a serious case of the virus should the contract COVID-19.
Not only are the healthy benefits of dental care clear, the AAP also stresses that no evidence exists that suggests visiting the dentist pose any kind of risk in either spreading or contracting the virus.
Additionally, the ADA notes that dentists, like other health care providers, are experts in the prevention of disease and that existing practices and guidelines followed by dentists are designed to make dental offices safe for everyone.
“Millions of patients have safely visited their dentists in the past few months for the full range of dental services. With appropriate PPE, dental care should continue to be delivered during global pandemics or other disaster situations,” said the ADA in a statement.
Protecting Your Health
At Twin Peaks, our Longmont family dentists have implemented a variety of protocols and procedures designed to keep our patients and staff safe and healthy. From staggered appointment times and patient screenings to nightly cleanings and the use of PPE, you can take comfort in knowing that we will continue to take every precaution possible to ensure your safety when visiting our office.
Your oral health matters, now more than ever. Avoiding dental during a pandemic can serve to only further weaken your immune system at a time when you need it to function its best.
While we believe the WHO’s recommendation to avoid dental care comes for a good place, we simply cannot ignore the needs of our patients oral and overall health at such a delicate time.