Dental practices that were able to stay open and service dental emergencies during this COVID-19 pandemic played a critical role in supporting our local hospitals and healthcare system as a whole. Dentists were not only critical in helping to preserve precious capacity at emergency rooms across the country, but they also played a vital role in helping to preserve resources like PPE, which were desperately needed by frontline physicians and nurses to treat COVID-19 and other medical emergencies. Beyond dental emergencies, however, the importance of one's oral healthcare in relation to their overall health, especially those receiving treatment for systemic conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, and more, cannot be overstated. Dental care, as has been demonstrated both prior to and during this entire pandemic, is necessary and safe.

Compendium’s Public Health Section Editor, Dr. Jack Dillenberg, created a video along with Dr. Georges Benjamin regarding the importance of oral health and the safety of dental procedures during COVID-19. Please take a moment to watch this brief video.

Many states unfortunately continue to grapple with increasing infection rates and, as a result, some governments are considering a retraction of certain authorized activities, services and businesses. If that is being considered in a given state, please know that dentists and their staffs have been expertly trained in infection control - and this statement has been proven repeatedly throughout this crisis, as evidenced by the fact that the CDC has yet to confirm a single case of COVID-19 being transmitted due to a dental procedure in a dental practice.

These are undoubtedly difficult times, but know that there are reliable, expertly trained dentists who are stepping up in their role as a provider for their patient population.