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Health Professionals Urge Residents To Proceed With Dental Work

Tim Shelley
/
WCBU

People who have been putting off dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic should not keep waiting.

“I encourage everybody to come in for their checkups and if they need dental work,” said Dr. Sue Bishop, dental health director for the Peoria City-County Health Department.

“Worst of all, if you need oral surgery services don't put it off because it could really jeopardize your overall health if you start ignoring any of those areas of your dental health.”

Tazewell County Health Department spokesperson Sara Sparkman also encourages residents to get their regular check-ups. She said facilities there are abiding by all recommendations to deter transmission of the coronavirus.

“Dental offices and medical offices are all following the mitigation: encouraging social distancing, wearing masks, cleaning equipment and rooms and chairs and everything after a patient has been there,” said Sparkman.

Bishop said a nationwide study shows less than 1% of dentists have tested positive for COVID-19. She noted many offices are also limiting the number of people in their waiting rooms, and warned that delaying necessary dental procedures can prove quite costly, both physically and financially.

“If you wait too long on some of those things, they do get to be quite large and sometimes painful and result an infection and possible loss of the tooth – not to mention the expense that might be involved,” she said.

WCBU's story.

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Joe Deacon is a reporter at WCBU.