A dental office patient's chair.
VCU Dental Care is resuming in-person services and urges the community not to postpone necessary or emergency dental care. (Getty Images)

May 22, 2020

VCU Dental Care to reopen for dental appointments with ‘safety as our top priority’

New safety and infection prevention measures in place to resume preventative, postponed and non-emergency care

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By Mary Kate Brogan
School of Pharmacy

VCU Dental Care is ready to resume preventative and postponed procedures for both pediatric and adult patients, such as placement of restorations and tooth replacements, gum treatments and cleanings, tooth extractions, cancer screening and routine dental exams.

“We never stopped providing emergency care through the Nelson Clinic at VCU Medical Center,” said David C. Sarrett, D.M.D., dean of the VCU School of Dentistry and associate vice president for VCU Health Sciences. “Since early March, we have strategized to resume routine dental care and postponed procedures, with safety as our top priority. We activated this plan, and we are in the process of reintroducing services gradually beginning May 26. Our dental clinics are safer than ever.” 

VCU Dental Care has taken steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to keep patients, team members and the community safe:

  • Using telehealth for patient appointments and to communicate with patients both before and after procedures and treatments.
  • Screening everyone for coronavirus symptoms at our entrance and requiring everyone who enters our facility to wear a mask. Masks will be provided if patients do not have one. 
  • Providing extra hand-washing stations, robust cleaning and disinfecting protocols, protective barriers and social distancing enforcement.
  • Staff wearing personal protective equipment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association when caring for patients. Our protective equipment includes ultraviolet sanitizers, customized face shields and specially fitted N95 masks. 

In addition to resuming oral health care safely, VCU Dental Care is urging the community not to postpone necessary or emergency dental care. Dental and other oral diseases, including gum issues, cavities and cancers, are chronic and progressive. Delaying treatment can lead to poor outcomes and increased health risk.

For appointments, call (804) 828-9190. For after hours or weekend emergencies, call (804) 828-0951. For more information, visit vcudentalcare.com.