After more than a year in which many people stayed mainly at home in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, signs abound that life is starting to return to normal for people in South Florida and across the country. 

Vaccination rates are increasing and infection rates are on the decline. Businesses are reopening and people are going back to work. Many are even catching up on things they put off during the pandemic, like a visit with a dentist.

Some 93% of Americans plan to see a dentist this year, according to a recent survey. Nearly 90% of respondents said they believe oral health is an important part of overall health, while another three-quarters (72%) said they are paying close attention to their oral health at home during the pandemic.

For anyone on the fence about seeing a dentist, here is why now is the time.

Checkups are Essential to Good Health

Regular dental checkups are vital to ensuring oral health and can play a role in warding off other medical conditions. They are also relatively quick and painless, even for people who may be nervous about visiting a dentist.

Most serious dental problems and diseases are preventable if detected in the early stages, commonly through routine checkups. The earlier problems are spotted, the less expensive, extensive and invasive the process to treat them.

These appointments also give dental professionals a chance to thoroughly clean your teeth, ensuring that plaque and tartar buildup are removed. 

Most people should see a dentist for a checkup twice a year. Those who are at particular risk of gum disease and related issues – such as smokers, pregnant women, people with gum disease, and people prone to infection – are encouraged to see a dentist more frequently.

Restorative and Cosmetic Services Brighten Smiles

Some people who have primarily been at home the last year may be a little anxious about returning to everyday life, including going back to an office or workplace. Restoring and improving your smile can go a long way in boosting a person’s confidence.

At Pearl White, we have been helping people brighten their smiles for more than 15 years. We offer several restorative and cosmetic dental services, including: 

• Invisalign: These transparent and removable trays used to straighten teeth are a popular option that have made metal braces essentially a thing of the past.
• Root canals: This procedure helps save injured or decaying teeth from extraction by eliminating infections.
• Crowns and bridges: Crowns rebuild teeth by placing new caps on them. Bridges are artificial teeth used to fill gaps in a smile.
• Inlays and onlays: These restorative treatments are used to address various tooth imperfections.
• Teeth-whitening: Our teeth-whitening treatment lets people make their pearly whites shine from the comfort of their own homes.
• Botox: This treatment is often combined with others to brighten smiles by reducing lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

We take the time to understand each patient’s situation, goals and needs and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Visit a Fort Lauderdale Dentist Today

If you are due for a checkup, dealing with mouth pain or discomfort or interested in improving your smile, Fort Lauderdale dentist Natalia Benda-Celenski and her team at Pearl White Dentistry can help.

Contact us online, call us at (954) 491-8812 or email us at dr@pearlwhitedentistry.com to schedule an appointment with a Fort Lauderdale dentist.

There is good news for anyone nervous about seeing a dentist during the pandemic.

Dental treatment does not increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission, researchers at the Ohio State University recently concluded. The group said fears that the virus, which spreads through respiratory droplets or aerosols, might be more easily transmitted in dental procedures that produce more aerosols are unfounded.

“Getting your teeth cleaned does not increase your risk for COVID-19 infection any more than drinking a glass of water from the dentist’s office does,” Purnima Kumar,  a professor of periodontology at Ohio State and the lead author of the study, said in a statement announcing the research results.

“These findings should help us open up our practices, make ourselves feel safe about our environment and, for patients, get their oral and dental problems treated – there is so much evidence emerging that if you have poor oral health, you are more susceptible to COVID,” Kumar said.

The researchers found that water from irrigation tools used during most dental procedures, rather than patients’ saliva, causes most of the splatter from patients’ mouths. They said that dental procedures remain safe so long as “infection control measures are used, such as preoperative mouth rinses and intraoral high-volume evacuation.”

Dentists Focus on Safety During the Pandemic

Meanwhile, a separate study shows that the rate of infections among dentists was relatively low during the height of the pandemic. 

About 2.6% of dentists have contracted the coronavirus as of November 2020, much lower than other frontline health professionals, according to American Dental Association Science & Research Institute and Health Policy Institute.

Researchers applauded dentists for taking preventative measures to keep themselves, their staff and their patients safe. 

Nearly all of the 1,300 dentists who participated in the survey said they used enhanced infection prevention and control strategies in their practice each month. That includes screening patients and staff for COVID-19, disinfecting between patient appointments and encouraging social distancing among patients.

Make an Appointment with a Fort Lauderdale Dentist Today

If you are due for a checkup, dealing with mouth pain or discomfort or interested in improving your smile, Fort Lauderdale dentist Natalia Benda-Celenski and her team at Pearl White Dentistry can help.

We have been assisting people in Ft. Lauderdale and throughout South Florida who want to brighten their smiles and keep their mouths healthy for more than 15 years. Dr. Natalia has been cited for “Excellence in Clinical Achievement” because of her professional achievement and personalized approach. 

Whether you need a routine checkup and cleaning, are considering Invisalign to address crowded teeth or are thinking about cosmetic dentistry options, we will take the time to understand your situation and walk you through your options. We work with a wide range of insurance plans and are happy to assist with patient financing.

Contact us online, call us at (954) 491-8812, or email us at dr@pearlwhitedentistry.com to schedule an appointment with a Fort Lauderdale dentist.