COVID-19 Member Information

It's time to go back to the dentist!

Many dental clinics in Virginia are now open for non-emergency dental care. Delta Dental of Virginia is joining dentists in urging people not to delay dental exams. Routine dental care is particularly important for children, those who are pregnant and those who have a chronic medical condition, which may put them at higher risk for dental problems. And routine dental exams may detect early warning signs for other health conditions.¹

Click on the button below to learn more about why it's important to continue to visit the dentist and safety precautions dental offices are taking.

Learn more

Dental emergencies and teledentistry

If you are unable to meet with your dentist in-person during this time, or don't feel comfortable doing so, you may be able to meet with him or her via teledentistry. This allows your dentist to triage you virtually, where you can have a discussion about your situation and symptoms. Your dentist might also be able to perform a high-level visual exam and determine a treatment plan or call in a prescription for you.

What if I'm having a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies are potentially life-threatening conditions like uncontrolled bleeding, trauma to the face, or infections with facial or mouth swelling that could affect the airway and breathing. While guidance may vary state-by-state on non-emergency dental visits, dental emergencies must be addressed. Learn more about how to identify a dental emergency in our emergency dental care resources flyer or by visiting the American Dental Association’s resource at MouthHealthy.org/virus. If you think you're having a dental emergency, call your dentist immediately to determine the best course of action.

Click on the button below to view a list of Delta Dental participating dentists in Virginia that offer teledentistry services.

View the list

Scheduling your emergency visit

If your current dentist is not offering emergency or teledentistry services and you need to schedule an emergency appointment with a new dentist, make sure the new dentist participates in your Delta Dental of Virginia plan.

Check the top right-hand corner of your ID card to find out which network(s) are covered by your plan.

Call the dentist to schedule your appointment and ask if they participate in the network shown on your ID card (for example: Delta Dental PPO^TM).

If you visit a dentist that is out-of-network for your plan, your benefits might be reduced and/or your out-of-pocket costs might be higher. Click on the button below to log in and view your ID card.

Maintaining a safe environment for staff and patients

The American Dental Association (ADA) has issued precautions for dental professionals to ensure your health and safety. Offices are being asked to follow the same stringent cleaning and disinfection strategies used during flu season. Dentists received recommendations for ways to decrease risk through no-touch receptacles, reducing potential exposure in small or crowded waiting rooms by offering patients the option to wait in their car and receive a call or text when it is their turn for treatment, as well as extra care when assisting patients who have a cough or other respiratory symptoms.

Staying healthy

We recommend practicing appropriate hygiene by washing your hands frequently. If you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve. If you don’t feel well, please stay home. There is a strong connection between oral health and overall health, so it’s important to keep up your oral health routine to stay healthy, especially since gum disease may weaken your immune system. Being proactive about your oral health — while it may not prevent you from getting sick — may help keep your body’s natural defenses strong.

More resources

We want to share various recommendations to help ensure that you, and those around you, stay healthy. For updates and the latest information about the Coronavirus, we recommend following the Novel Coronavirus guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

For more tips to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, visit the Red Cross’ Coronavirus: Safety and Readiness Tips for You. We will continue to monitor information about Coronavirus from the CDC, ADA and other public health agencies and will provide updates.

We want to hear from you if there is more we can be doing to support your dental care during this time. If you have questions, contact us at 800.237.6060.

^{¹Steven L. Bricker, Robert P. Langlais, and Craig S. Miller, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Medicine and Treatment Planning (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1994).}