FOR PAIN & EMERGENCIES, CALL:

NAPOLEON (877)216-9296

SYLVANIA (877) 216-8354

Letter from Dr. Carpenter Regarding Emergency Services Available During COVID-19 Pandemic

Hello! While some dentists have chosen to shut down entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to stay open for emergency appointments only. Every 14 seconds, someone goes to a U.S. hospital emergency room due to a dental-related issue. By providing emergency dental care, we are able to treat people who would otherwise have to go to the emergency room for pain relief. Hospitals appreciate fewer emergency visits during this time, and most of us would prefer to avoid the hospital as well.

If you or someone you know is having an urgent dental emergency, please call us, as we are not abandoning our patients during this difficult time. I am proud to say that we have been able to help relieve many people from severe pain and infection over the past 3 weeks.  We have been directing all emergency patients to our Napoleon and Sylvania locations during this time. I have been seeing patients daily in Napoleon and Dr. Nessif has been seeing patients at both the Sylvania and Napoleon locations. 

I am going to share with you very clear guidelines on what is considered emergency or urgent dental care, as well as what you can expect when you or family member, friend, or co-worker call our office.

Dental emergencies are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding or alleviate severe pain or infection, and include:  uncontrolled bleeding; cellulitis or a diffuse soft tissue bacterial infection with swelling of the face or in the mouth that could potentially compromise your airway; and trauma to the mouth involving teeth or soft tissues.

Urgent dental care focuses on the management of conditions that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain and/or risk of infection and to alleviate the burden on hospital emergency departments.  This list would include: severe dental pain from the nerve (pulp) of the tooth; third molar pain or swelling known as pericoronitis; dry socket treatment; abscessed teeth resulting in localized pain and swelling; tooth fracture resulting in pain; final crown and bridge cementation if temporary crown or bridge comes off, is lost, or breaks; suture removal; denture adjustments and repairs when function is impeded; and snipping orthodontic wires that are cutting the cheek or lip.

Our team will be asking the following questions if you call:

• Are you experiencing any pain?
• Have you traveled outside of the U.S. in the past 30 days?
• Have you traveled domestically in the U.S. in the past 30 days?
• Have you been in direct contact with a COVID-19 patient or an individual with COVID-19 symptoms?
• Are you experiencing these symptoms? Shortness of breath, Fever, Cough, Sore throat

While visiting our dental offices, we have always practiced universal precautions around prevention of the transmission of any disease with proper personal protective equipment and disinfection and sterilization techniques. In addition, we are doing the following:  

• Spacing appointments apart to minimize the number of people in the office
• Taking temperatures of patients upon arrival
• Removing books, magazines, and toys from the reception areas
• Frequent wiping down of high touch areas such as surfaces and door handles, pens, etc.

We ask that you help and protect those of us that are seeing patients by not misrepresenting pain level, potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, and recent travels.

Thank you, stay healthy, and God Bless,

Dr. Michael Carpenter