Dentists Give Emergency Care During Coronavirus Pandemic

LOGANVILLE, GEORGIA — When it comes to frontline responders at greatest risk during the coronavirus pandemic, most people think of doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians.

But what about dentists?

Dentists’ work makes social distancing impossible and requires them to hover over a patient’s open mouth. Worse yet, dealing with some dental problems — at best painful, at worst deadly — can’t be postponed.

Dr. Beau Upshaw of Creekside Dentistry in Loganville knows this all too well. He's one of thousands of Georgia dentists who've stayed open to handle emergencies, and it's hardly business as usual at his office, open only one day a week during shelter-in-place restrictions. No more than one patient at a time is allowed in, and the coffee bar has been removed to discourage disease spread. Even the old magazines normally found in a doctor's waiting room are gone.

"It's definitely different," Upshaw said. In fact, the "only thing that feels normal" is when he begins talking with his patients.

Dentists are essential workers because they can save people's lives — or at least keep them out of the hospital. Last week, for example, Upshaw took care of a patient with the beginnings of a tooth abscess. The infection could have landed the patient in an emergency room, and "that's the last place they want to be," he said.

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Upshaw, his partner and their assistants are as unprotected as many other medical workers, wearing only face shields in addition to their normal masks, eyewear with side shields, and scrubs. He said they have N95 respirators on back order.

Before he goes home to his wife and two young daughters, Upshaw changes into clean clothes. As soon as he gets to the house, he showers thoroughly before interacting with his family. He's matter-of-fact about it: "Everybody's in the same boat, so we're kind of making the best of it," he said.

Upshaw isn't alone in treating dental emergencies. The vast majority of Georgia dentists are seeing emergency patients during pandemic restrictions, according to Frank Capaldo, executive director of the Georgia Dental Association. Nationally, the American Dental Association reports that almost 80 percent of its members reported in late March and early April that they were seeing emergency patients.

So when should you call your dentist during shelter-in-place? In general, if you’re in pain, call. Capaldo said non-urgent dental procedures that can be postponed include routine care like exams, cleanings, cosmetic procedures and treatment of cavities that aren’t causing pain.

These problems, on the other hand, warrant calling your dentist immediately, pandemic or not:

• bleeding that doesn’t stop
• painful swelling in or around your mouth
• pain in a tooth, teeth or jawbone
• gum infection with pain or swelling
• post-surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
• broken or knocked out tooth
• denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
• snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
• other dental treatment required prior to critical medical procedures
• removal of stitches from oral surgery

If you’re unsure of what constitutes a dental emergency, visit the GDA’s COVID-19 resource page. A phone call to your dentist can determine whether or not you need to be seen immediately.

Of course, it would be best if you didn't have to go to the dentist at all, especially at a time like this. If you're comfort eating, be sure to take extra care of your teeth.

"If you're going to snack more often, you should brush more often," Upshaw said.

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