Should I Cancel My Appointment if I'm Sick?

Cold and flu season is upon us.  We often get this question and there are things to consider.

• How sick are you?

We are working in your mouth.  Cold and flu germs are in your mouth.  We don't like getting sick either.  So if you are contagious: please stay home.  Not only is this a courtesy to us and our families, we also do not want our patients, some of whom are very young or elderly, getting sick either.

• Will you be able to lay back?

Often when congested or dealing with a sinus issue, laying back may make it hard to breathe.  Combined with us working in your mouth, may make breathing through your nose difficult.

• Do you have a bad cough?

When we do dental work, we need the tooth to be super dry.  In some cases, one drop of saliva could compromise the filling or crown.  If you need to cough or sneeze during a procedure, when we need things to dry, it could result in that crown or filling failing.

Generally, if you are calling to ask if you should cancel your appointment due to an illness, the answer is most likely, yes.  We understand!