With the restrictions put in place for many of the simplest of medical procedures or elective surgeries, some people may forget that dentists are still offering emergency care.
Dr. Adrienne Penley has been providing that care Monday through Friday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While she will take walk-ins, she prefers that her patients call her office if they need an emergency procedure such as due to tooth or jaw pain, an infection, broken tooth or if a crown or filling have come loose.
“We’re here for our patients if they have a dental emergency,” Penley said.
Since social distancing has been put in place, Penley said she’s noticed that a number of her patients are wary about being in waiting rooms for extended periods. To alleviate that concern, her staff is offering the option for patients to wait in their vehicle until a room is available. Patients who opt for that service, will be alerted when a room is ready, and be immediately escorted inside her business.
It is her hope that by offering these services, her business can help take some of the burden from local hospitals and prevent people with emergency dental needs from going to the emergency room.
Penley said that she and her staff are taking every precaution suggested by the Centers for Disease Control, including continually sanitizing frequently touched surfaces, asking patients pertinent questions to determine if they have COVID-19 before allowing them in the business and using top of the line facemasks.
Penley said her office is open Monday through Friday, typically by appointment. She asks patients to call her office and leave a message. Staff are checking messages regularly, including from home. If a patient needs immediate care during typical business hours, she asks that they call first to confirm availability.
Due to the current restrictions in place, Penley Family Dentistry can not provide preventive care at this time.
Penley Family Dentistry is located at 6480 Highway 11, Carriere, and can be reached by calling 601-749-9330.