Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices have been required to implement some changes to their offices and to the appointment process in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infections. These changes are different in each dental office, but the following is a list of some differences that you may notice during your dental appointment:

All patients are required to wear a mask from the time you enter the building to the time you exit the building. The exception to this is when the provider is doing work in your mouth. It is okay to take off your mask so that they can see and work in your mouth. The provider will usually tell you when it is time to take off your mask or put it back on.

Changes to expect:

Entrance:

  • Upon entering the dental office, you will be required to complete a COVID-19 screening. Click this link for tips on successfully completing this process.
  • When checking-in for your appointment, the reception staff may be sitting behind plastic screens. These help to prevent the spread of germs between you, the patient, and the staff.

Waiting Room:

  • The waiting room may look different. There may be less chairs and these chairs may be spread 6 feet apart in order to maintain the social distancing that helps to prevent the spread of germs. When choosing a chair to sit in, be sure that you select a spot that is 6+ feet apart from other waiting patients. If there is not a chair available that is properly distanced, ask the reception staff where they would like you to sit.
  • The magazines and toys that are typically provided in the waiting room will likely be removed.

Exam Room:

  • When you are called back for your appointment, you may notice that the dental assistants and dentists are wearing some additional protection equipment. Some may be wearing 2 masks, protection goggles/glasses, protection gowns, and/or a plastic face shield
  • Some dental offices have installed additional air filtration systems to limit the spread of the air-borne particles that can spread infection.
  • Some dental offices have closed the little sinks used to spit in (cuspidors) and ask the patients to spit in cups or in mechanical cups or suction tubes.

Review

Waiting Room at Dentist Office
Dental Assistant Explaining COVID-19 protection equipment

Thank you to White Family Dental in Elizabethtown, PA for helping with this section.

Practice

To help you prepare for a dental appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic try one of the following suggestions:

  1. Review the possible changes that you might experience. Remember that each dental office is implementing COVID-19 precautions differently, the list at the top of this page is just an example of what you might experience.
  2. If you prefer knowing what changes your specific dental office has implemented, call the dentist office 1-2 days before your appointment and ask them to explain the COVID-19 related changes that they are using. If you prefer a written list of these changes, request that they email you the list of changes.

Reflection

Did I have a successful visit to the dentist with all of the changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

If yes:

  • Did it go well?

If yes, great!

  • What helped you be successful in going to the dentist office? (make sure to do this again next time to help you have continued success)

If no:

  • What didn’t work well?
  • List any ideas to overcome what didn’t work well for next time (ask a trusted person if needed)