South High Dental staff follows all policies and procedures required by the Ohio State Dental Board. We had already implemented most of the policies before they were required, so that transition has been easy for us. To learn about the essential dental services we offer, contact South High Dental today.
Are Ohio Dentists Open?
Governor DeWine reopened dental offices on May 1st, 2020. Policies and procedures vary per practice, but the guidelines are the same for Dentists in the Columbus area:
- Pre-screening patients (taking temperatures, health surveys, etc.)
- Prohibiting employee from working if they are sick
- Requiring masks and gloves to be worn by all employees at all times
- Disinfecting services between patients
- Limiting the number of appoints
- Staggering patient appointments to avoid crowded waiting areas
- Scheduling longer appointments (to avoid patient interaction)
- Scheduling time between patient visits
- Securing test reports for patients and staff (when available)
- Taking staff and patient temperatures upon entering the practice
- Volume evacuators and isolation strategies
What are Essential Dental Services?
The American Dental Association (ADA) lists the following services as essential:
- Controlling severe bleeding
- Addressing mouth swelling and pain
- Treating tooth and jaw pain
- Post-surgery treatment
- Address cracked or broken teeth
- Taking a biopsy of abnormal tissue
Cavity: To Fill or Not to Fill
A cavity needs to be filled when tooth enamel is weakened or destroyed. This causes a small hole in the tooth. People with cavities generally don’t notice them, but they should be treated as soon as possible. A cavity is permanent and needs to be filled quickly to avoid further decay. We do not recommend waiting for more than a few weeks to fill a cavity. Cavities can occur anywhere on a tooth. Filling a cavity between teeth is common, and your dentist will provide guidelines for flossing and cleaning after your cavity is filled.
Filling a cavity between teeth should be taken care of as soon as possible. Furthermore, filling a wisdom tooth cavity usually takes only a few minutes and is a very common procedure. After numbing the mouth, the dentist will fill the cavity by first removing decay from the tooth. After that, a bonded filling will be placed on the tooth.
Failing to treat a cavity can result in the following dental problems:
- Changes in your bite
- Tooth loss
- Bad breath
- Decay in nearby teeth
- Difficulty chewing
- Movement of nearby teeth
- Speech problems
- Bone loss
- Altered facial features
Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency involves an injury, infection, or another ailment that requires immediate Dental emergencies can be caused by accidents, illnesses, sports injuries, biting into hard foods, and neglecting your dental hygiene. These are a few of the most common dental emergencies we see at South High Dental:
- Dental cavity
- Cracked tooth
- Abscess
- Toothache
- Loss of a permanent tooth
- Any kind of jaw or mouth trauma
The essential dental services we provide at South High Dental can help you avoid a dental emergency. Even when you take excellent care of your teeth, there is always the possibility of having a dental emergency. We recommend keeping your dentist’s information in your wallet and stored in the notes section of your phone. Promptly treating dental issues will decrease the likelihood of additional dental procedures.
- Emergency dental services
- Crowns
- Veneers
- Fluoride treatment
- Panoramic X-rays
Dental Checkups
Dental checkups, regular cleaning, and fluoride treatments can help you avoid dental emergencies. We recommend that patients schedule dental checkups and cleanings every six months. Maintaining and improving dental health starts at home (avoiding sweet, starchy foods, brushing and flossing after every meal, and following your dentist’s instructions), but regular checkups and cleanings are essential. Contact us at 614.363.2462 to schedule an appointment.
