Visit Your Dentist for Dental Emergencies
To keep Oklahoma’s hospital beds available for COVID-19 patients, leaders of the Oklahoma Dental Association encourage Oklahomans to contact their dentist FIRST when experiencing tooth pain or discomfort, rather than heading to the emergency room. If you or someone you know are experiencing mouth or jaw pain, oral infection, or any dental emergency, call your dentist before visiting an overcrowded emergency room.
“With many of our hospitals at or near capacity, we want to remind Oklahomans that most dental emergencies will be better addressed by a dentist,” said Chris Fagan, DDS, President of the Oklahoma Dental Association. “Oklahoma dentists continue to be available to their patients, and by first seeking care from a dentist, the patient’s issue will be addressed more quickly, while helping relieve Oklahoman’s current strained hospital system. Our members’ goal is to reduce the risk of patients’ exposure to COVID-19, while providing the necessary and emergency dental services that will maintain the oral health of the citizens of Oklahoma. And now, thanks to the expansion of our Medicaid program this year, more Oklahomans than ever have access to oral healthcare.”
Oral health is an important part of overall health, and as health care professionals, we are here to partner with hospitals and other Oklahoma healthcare providers to ensure our communities are safe and our fellow Oklahomans receive the services they need to stay healthy.
When you choose a dentist who is a member of the Oklahoma Dental Association and the American Dental Association, you’re choosing a dentist who agreed to follow the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct and made a professional promise to put your health and well-being first.
When it comes to choosing your dentist, the ADA and the ODA want you to feel confident and comfortable.
Why Should You Choose an Oklahoma Dental Association Member Dentist?
Something as simple as going to your dentist twice a year is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your smile. Aside from checking for cavities and oral diseases, and doing routine cleaning, your dentist can also provide other options for making your smile even brighter.
Whether you are 80 or 8, your oral health is important. Did you know that 100 million Americans fail to see a dentist each year, even though regular dental examinations and good oral hygiene can prevent most dental disease?
Don’t forget to use your dental benefits before they expire at the end of the year!
Founded in 1907, The ODA is a membership organization that fosters an awareness of the obligations and responsibilities of the dental profession to society, to help advance the art and science of dentistry, and to promote public health and health services in the State of Oklahoma.
Find an ODA Dentist near you by searching your zip code.