Have you been to the dentist lately? If the answer is no, you’re not alone

PITTSBURGH — COVID-19 has raised fears for many people about the safety of getting your teeth examined by a dentist.

Dentists are making sure they take steps to both calm your fears and keep themselves safe.

“There are people still very reluctant to go to the dentist,” Squirrel Hill dentist Paul Gleason said.

Sitting down next to your dentist with your mask on while they work on your teeth still scares a lot of people concerned they may be exposing themselves to the virus. But we found out what steps dentists are taking to make visits as safe as possible.

For many folks, getting a dental check up is a worthwhile risk.

“It just feels like a necessary thing to do. You gotta get your teeth cleaned. I’m trying to be as healthy as I can,” patient MJ Arnold said.

However in a brand new nationwide survey of 4500 patients by nextsmiledental.com, 65% of Pennsylvanians delayed their routine dentist appointment during this pandemic because of coronavirus concerns.

Gleason says skipping checkups and ignoring your dental health are risky behaviors.

The survey also showed 1 in 5 people are delaying treatment for a serious issue so long as they aren’t in pain. Gleason tells us this could lead to serious long-term health problems.

“If a patient were to neglect going to the dentist over a period of time and ignore those symptoms, it could lead to gum disease, which could lead to cardiac issues. But if you ignore an abscessed tooth, that could lead to symphysis or other long-lasting effects,” he said.

Almost a quarter of parents admitted in the survey they didn’t take their kids to the dentist, instead checking their teeth with help from research online. Gleason says with more kids eating sugar at home now, a lack of checkups can be dangerous.

“It’s so crucial for kids to get in because their enamel is so thin, and if they were to develop a small cavity, that could rapidly develop into a dental crisis,” Gleason said.

To make sure patients are safe and comfortable – Gleason’s team wears N95 masks, gowns, face shields and gloves. They also screen every patient and have HEPA filters.

“These HEPA filters work where they scrub the air every five minutes and replace it,” Gleason said.

Gleason and his employees are receiving their second dose of the Moderna vaccine next week, but they will continue to keep safety measures in place.

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Dentists protecting their staff and patients from COVID-19