The global coronavirus pandemic has left an ache with Franklin County dental practices, many of which scaled back their appointment availability or closed down for elective and non-urgent care until the situation is resolved.
Ed Sayer, the CEO of Community Health Center of Franklin County, said the practice has a limited supply of dental masks and medical masks, and patients with scheduled elective procedures are urged to consider allowing some time to pass before coming in for an appointment. He said hygiene appointments are an example of an elective procedure.
“Dental pain is not elective,” he said. “If someone is in dental pain, we try to do what we can.”
Sayer said patients in need of tooth extractions might be treated with antibiotics until regular appointments are rescheduled.
He said business is down at least half for the dental and medical practices.
“We’re doing a lot of telemedicine,” he said of the practice of assisting a patient via phone or video chat. “We’re trying to do that as much as possible to keep patients out of the health center as much as possible.”
Sayer said there are fewer people in the building at 102 Main St. as the center has allowed employees to work from home when appropriate. He also said leadership is meeting twice daily to discuss proper protocols and procedure.
Jessica Hale, who has worked as a dental assistant at BGH Dental at 207 Silver St. for seven years, said the office closed at noon on March 18. The plan is to reopen April 6. Patients will be seen on an emergency basis only.
Hale said people can call 413-772-0842 and it will be directed to the cellphone of one of the practice’s three dentists, who will teleconference with the patient to determine a pain level and if it is necessary to carry out a procedure that cannot wait.
“We don’t want to leave anybody in pain,” Hale said, adding that closing to all non-urgent cases was recommended by the American Dental Association and the government. “No one has seen this ever, ever, ever.”
Hale said the practice’s employees will go on unemployment until the reopening.
A voicemail for Montague Dental Arts, led by Dr. Geetu Shokeen, at 300 Avenue A in Turners Falls, states the practice is closed until further notice. The estimated time of reopening is 8 a.m. on April 6. The voicemail said patients in need of urgent care can call 860-990-4377.
Likewise, a voicemail for Orange Dental Group, at 9 Grove St., states that all elective and non-urgent care appointments have been suspended through April 7.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.