Many dental clinics in Virginia are now open for non-emergency dental care. Though dentist offices are open and following additional safety measures, 48.1% of Virginia practices surveyed say their patient volumes are still lower than normal. That has dentists sounding a warning about the importance of routine preventive dental care.

Delta Dental of Virginia is joining dentists in urging people not to delay dental exams.

In a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 52% of respondents said they or a family member skipped or delayed dental or medical care in June 2020 because of COVID-19. Dental procedures were the most common type of care that was delayed, with 37% of adults saying they put off visits. In addition to the Kaiser poll an American Dental Association (ADA) national survey found that dental visits are about 60% of what they were before dental offices closed for non-emergency care in mid-March.

While many Americans plan to return to the dentist soon, more than a quarter of the 1,300 Kaiser Family Foundation poll respondents who skipped or postponed their dental visits said they do not feel safe returning to dental offices just yet. However, dental offices have traditionally been safe places to visit — and they have put more measures in place to protect patients in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the ADA. Some of those measures include:

Your health and well-being is our top priority. Stay informed of the changing environment related to COVID-19 on our member website. And remember to maintain your oral health routine at home – regular brushing and flossing between visits will help you maintain a healthy smile.