Yet another Covid question - should I go to the dentist for a cleaning?

August 27, 2021 12:51 PM

What it says on the tin (details and dithering inside).

Facts:
--I was vaccinated in March
--I last went to the dentist 6 months ago when cases were low and Delta not here
--My dentist's staff are all vaccinated, and are taking precautions, _but_ the two patient treatment areas are in the same room, only separated by a plexiglass partition rather than full walls
--Case counts here are about 50/100,000, 9% positivity; we just hit all-time highs of both counts and deaths
--I am doing groceries curbside, restaurants take-out, and work part-time from home; my volunteer gig shut down last month due to Covid, so I basically do not interact in person with people other than my spouse

Feelings:
--I am having a lot of trouble with anxiety, especially around, you know, humans
--Being at the dentist makes me (like everyone else) anxious at the best of times
--I personally know breakthrough cases who were not hospitalized, but had a very hard time and may have long-term symptoms

I'm at the point where I genuinely have no idea whether I'm being silly to put it off and imperil my dental health, or silly to go and imperil the rest of my health. Also, I don't know if I can get through a dental appointment without freaking out. I'd like to see my doctor about the anxiety (and I need to see her anyway), but...same problem, though at least there I could keep my mask on. Agh.

posted by LadyOscar to Health & Fitness (26 answers total)

I just went to the dentist 3x last week to fix some cavities (5!), and no covid. I prioritized my physical health here, and felt pretty comfortable given that they were vaccinated as was I, and I also had to use a special mouthwash for a minute to kill any bacteria. I also listened to some calming music which was nice.

But it sounds like this going to be really stressful for you to the point that holding off for 6 mo will be potentially worth it. It's hard to predict the future, but I really think we are going to have much more vaccinated people and lower case loads and the teeth cleaning can wait. You could even contact them and ask about if there's a virtual option to look at your mouth to see if you have cavities, which is the most important part of going to the dentist IMO anyways.
posted by pando11 at 12:58 PM on August 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

If you're able to practice good dental hygiene at home, don't have identified and monitored oral issues, and aren't currently experiencing problems, I think you can safely delay a cleaning.
But you could call and ask your provider, too. Recent study. If you do schedule, you could ask for an appointment when they haven't booked another patient in the adjacent treatment area.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:00 PM on August 27, 2021 [10 favorites]

I really feel you. Something that helped me feel better about going to the dentist's during this was getting the earliest booking on a Monday morning. That way, at least all the cooties drifting around were probably my cooties, and I got a disliked appointment out of the way early in the week.

FWIW, if you do end up going, please let the folks working with you know you might freak out / need to have an abbreviated appointment due to anxiety, esp. around COVID. They will be pleased to work with you, because they're glad you can make it at all.
posted by snerson at 1:00 PM on August 27, 2021 [5 favorites]

I would reassure yourself that dentistry, what with the bodily fluids and often blood exposure during basic cleanings, have long been very adamant about disease control and preventing transmission while in their care, even before Covid.

I went to the dentist a month or two ago, while vaccinated and in early-Delta times, and the dental crew was being very protective of everyone, and actually made me keep my mask on (it was required to enter the building) up until they needed to poke around in my mouth.

But, unless you've got critical teeth problems, you have my permission to put off the cleaning. My dentist appointment above was my first in years for...reasons...so if I can go multiple years without a cleaning and still have no cavities, you'll be fine going another six months without a cleaning.
posted by AzraelBrown at 1:03 PM on August 27, 2021 [4 favorites]

At the beginning of the pandemic, I put off going for a cleaning for a year. I went when the case count in my area was very low. I think I'd put if off again if the case count got past some level, though I couldn't say what that threshold would be.

The hygienist pointed out to me that they've been dealing with containing viral disease since the HIV crisis, and there is some truth to in that (thought the means of transmission are very different).
posted by SemiSalt at 1:07 PM on August 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

100% I would go. Oral health is so important for overall health - it's not just a comfort/cosmetic issue. Plus if you're like me, longer intervals make the cleaning much, much worse to bear.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:11 PM on August 27, 2021 [12 favorites]

The dentist may be as safe as you can get given that particular activity. They are pretty much so covered in PPE/masks/face shields/not using aerosols, etc. And I have bad teeth so they gave me whopping crap about missing my appointment in April 2020 even though obviously that was NOT under my control that the plaque wasn't scraped for 8 months or whatever.

Unfortunately, this is probably how life is going to always be now (at least for the next few years). "Wait it out until it's better" is probably not going to happen. This is as safe as it can get now.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:16 PM on August 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

Gingivitis, Periodontis and other teeth/mouth issues might be an important factor for going to that appointment. However, if you were there 6 months ago and there weren't any issues and you're pretty good about dental hygiene, you *should* be fine delaying.

As someone mentioned above, oral hygiene is linked to overall health and you really want to make sure you're on top of it.

As an anecdotal data point, I moved and hadn't found a new dentist yet at the start of COVID so I put it off up until just recently and had some *issues* that were quite expensive. I think if I had gone sooner maybe it wouldn't have been but who knows. It's up to you to decide. Good luck.
posted by VyanSelei at 1:25 PM on August 27, 2021

Call your dentist's office and ask what their protocols are. I've seen several posts here and from friends online about q-spouting hygienists and dentists that won't answer questions about vaccination "because HIPAA" and there are just a bunch of medical professionals out there who have lost the plot. If yours has, do not go there and find somewhere else. (And put it on Yelp.)

My husband had to ping-pong back and forth between dentist and endodontist for six weeks last winter and they were incredibly diligent - including some kind of suction device positioned directly above him while work was being done - and eager to answer his questions and reassure him. If that's what you're working with, AND your local schools are taking actual precautions (or nobody in your dental office has kids in school), it's about as safe as going anywhere else at this point.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:29 PM on August 27, 2021 [4 favorites]

Would they be willing to do check-in via phone/sms so you minimize your time in the waiting area? As in, you text the receptionist when you're right outside/parking and walk straight in when they're ready for you.
posted by Freelance Demiurge at 1:33 PM on August 27, 2021

How good are your teeth and gums in general? The only filling I ever had was in a baby tooth that I had retained. That was extracted last month, 20 years after the first filling. I am due to go back in early October to start work on the implant to replace it.

And because I have the sort of teeth one can take liberties with, my normal cleaning interval is 12 months…my longest time between cleanings was 5 years. There was a bit more plaque to remove but no issues.

So if dental issues for you are few and far between delay. If there is always some kind of problem, go now.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:41 PM on August 27, 2021

Just for a cleaning and you last went only six months ago? Nah.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 2:12 PM on August 27, 2021

It might cost more, but you may be able to find a dentist that does home cleanings. I know someone disabled who does that, but I think it's open to anyone. If the dentist is vaccinated and masked, I would think that would be pretty safe.
posted by pinochiette at 2:17 PM on August 27, 2021

The virus is spread in droplets, which is why masks are effective. It's not an aerosol, so I would feel okay about a partition.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:26 PM on August 27, 2021

The virus is spread in droplets, which is why masks are effective. It's not an aerosol, so I would feel okay about a partition.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, unfortunately. And delta is so much more contagious than the wild and alpha variants, partitions shouldn’t give anyone a false sense of security, and they may actually make matters worse in some cases.
posted by blue suede stockings at 2:36 PM on August 27, 2021 [6 favorites]

^ Reprint of blue suede stocking's "wrong, wrong, wrong" paywalled MedPage link; more info on aerosols
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:50 PM on August 27, 2021 [4 favorites]

I've been to the dentist several times since this started and I feel like it's more risky for them than it is for you. Their mouth and nose are covered by several layers while yours is spewing fluids out of it the whole time you're there. If it wasn't safe then they wouldn't be operating at all.
posted by bleep at 3:17 PM on August 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

I believe cleanings are recommended every six to 12 months, so unless you have any urgent concerns about your teeth then you should be fine to wait for now. Work on your anxiety, and make an appointment when you feel more comfortable and case numbers are not quite as high.

If you generally have good dental health then maybe even waiting more than 12 months would be okay if the situation still feels unsafe six months from now. You'll need to make an assessment on risk vs reward then.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:23 PM on August 27, 2021

Oh, and to answer your question (or at least offer my own workaround): I’m splitting the difference and delaying my own cleaning at least until after I’ve had access to the six month booster shot we’re all allegedly getting access to at some point in the USA starting next month. (I’m also someone who, due to an electric toothbrush and a regular flossing habit has been able to go a year between cleanings without issue, and am not currently experiencing any signs of trouble since my last cleaning in May).
posted by blue suede stockings at 3:24 PM on August 27, 2021

Your anxiety and concern are well founded. I was also very nervous and finally went for a check up appointment that was delayed 7 months due to the pandemic. Despite a history of few problems, I did indeed have an issue that needed to be addressed and it could have been nipped in the bud early had I been more timely with my visit.
I asked for the first appointment of the day upon scheduling. The visits were initially stressful, but I got through it and stayed healthy.
Due to the persistence of this virus, unfortunately, we've all had to start assuming some risk(s). I have been very conservative in my approach, but I have decided that obtaining dental and medical care are risks I need to take. Even preventative. I just try to do it as safely as possible.
posted by fies at 3:24 PM on August 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

Make your appointment for early in the day. You will be fine. I’m Immunocompromised and 1) had a tooth removed, 2) had revision surgery when the bone graft failed, 3) saw an oral surgeon and 4) had my teeth cleaned twice. Their offices are super vented and they will be masked even when you are not. I like to pack a clean cloth mask to stick over my face as needed (my dentist is the type to pause a lot). Let them know you are anxious and want to be in/out. If needed, you can always skip the polish after a cleaning. I did this in February when things were super bad here and I was in/out in 20 mins. Pay over the phone before ore after the appointment to avoid the reception gauntlet or slow moving people. You got this.
posted by floweredfish at 3:46 PM on August 27, 2021

The plexiglass barrier/same room is what gives me the most pause, because you can't know for certain the exposures, risk profile, etc of the adjacent patient. Can you schedule yourself and your spouse for the first two appointments of the day so that you aren't exposed to anyone new?
posted by telegraph at 11:10 AM on August 28, 2021

Response by poster: Right now I actually have an appointment scheduled from way back, for 2 PM. I'm considering trying to change it, but historically that's difficult because they tend to be busy, and also I'm constrained by my spouse's meeting schedule and unwillingness to wake up early on non-meeting days. (I would normally take the bus, but not during Covid, and I've stopped driving due to anxiety.) Spouse isn't due for another cleaning until November.
posted by LadyOscar at 12:04 PM on August 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

November is less than 3 months away - can you call and ask about a piggyback onto spouse's appointment? Then going forward you'll be on the same schedule at this practice, which may make transportation logistics easier.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:22 PM on August 28, 2021

Does your dentist also have HEPA filter units in the rooms? When I went to the dentist, there a HEPA filter in the room, and then the dentist didn't use the room again for some period of time. When I took my kid to the pediatric dentist, there were two HEPA filters in the room. I found this reassuring.

However, because of covid, I didn't go to the dentist for a year, and then only went when I finally was able to get my first vaccine shot. I know that historically, I've had no dental issues, so I was fine skipping an appointment. If we were in the middle of a covid wave with high positivity rates, I would cancel my appointment and wait for cases to be lower.
posted by ice-cream forever at 5:37 PM on August 28, 2021

I would urge you to go, if only for my own bit of anecdata: I'm not good at taking care of my teeth, and because of Corona, I stayed away from the dentist for too long (maybe my last visit was fall 2019?), and developed a cavity in a molar that weakened the tooth to the point where it broke, almost badly enough to require a root canal. I was lucky in that the dentist was able to do enough that all I needed was a filling instead. If I had been regularly going to the dentist, it's something that would have been caught much earlier, but, like a lot of people, I waited until I was fully vaccinated, and that just took too long.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:00 AM on August 29, 2021 [1 favorite]