As vaccines become more available, we get one step closer to defeating the coronavirus and ending this pandemic. Although vaccination can help us get some of the normalcy of our old lives back, many people are hesitant to take this big step. With a 100% fully vaccinated dental staff, we will tell you why getting vaccinated is so important, especially in dental settings where vaccinated dental staff and patients can ensure each other’s safety. We will also talk about the myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines that are creating doubts in your mind about vaccination and keeping you from visiting your Los Angeles dentist safely for your dental appointment.

Why We Support COVID-19 Vaccination

Due to the sensitivity of dental procedures and their high risk of transmitting different diseases from one patient to another, dentists were following strict disinfecting protocols even before the pandemic began. Even now according to the ADA, the dentist’s office is a relatively safe place, but this hasn’t stopped patients from delaying their checkups and ignoring their oral health. Since the virus can travel via aerosols and droplets and these are created by different dental procedures, patients are scared to visit the clinics and catch COVID-19. With the new delta variant of the virus getting stronger and taking more lives, wearing a mask may not be enough anymore. But postponing your dental needs can have just as severe consequences as getting infected with COVID-19. So what’s the solution? Vaccination.

We cannot stress the importance of vaccination enough. Although voluntary, it’s the only way to ensure the safety of staff,patients, and their families, especially those of higher-risk groups, and prevent the virus from spreading. A dental clinic running with 100% fully vaccinated dental staff can help ease the minds of patients so they can finally come back to tend to their teeth without facing the risk of catching COVID-19. Plus, it can help the office run more smoothly so the staff can tend to more patients. As healthcare professionals, the number one priority of dentists is the health and safety of their staff and patients. And right now this can only be achieved through vaccination.

Staff Vaccination

While staff members don’t have to reveal their vaccination status, a new survey shows that more patients will return to the dentist’s office if they knew it was running with a 100% fully vaccinated dental staff. This is not the only reason that dental staff should get vaccinated. Vaccination is also in line with their ethical and legal obligations to keep their patients safe.

If any members of the staff are hesitant about getting vaccinated, dentists should provide encouragement and build their confidence in the developed vaccines. They can talk about the serious risks and consequences of the disease and how the available vaccines can mitigate those risks and control the further spread of the disease. Since August 9, there is a new state policy in California that requires healthcare workers to provide proof of vaccination or get checked regularly. Because this order applies to dental staff, you can rest assured that when you visit a Los Angeles dentist like Dr. Kezian who has been following COVID-19 safety protocols since day one, you will be tended to by a 100% fully vaccinated dental staff that prioritizes your health and wellbeing. With the dental staff being vaccinated, now is time for you to get vaccinated too.

Patient Vaccination

By getting vaccinated you can not only return to the dentist’s office for a checkup or cleaning, but you can also return to some of the activities you had to let go of because of COVID-19. So if you’re 16 and older and eligible to get vaccinated, you can enjoy a safe trip or a small party. And now you have the option to choose from a couple of vaccines. There is the Pfizer mRNA vaccine that was the first one to get the FDA’s approval and requires two shots to create 95% immunity in your body. There is the Moderna vaccine that was developed using the same technology as the Pfizer vaccine and requires two shots to give you more than 90% immunity. There is also Johnson & Johnson’s vector vaccine that offers more than 85% immunity and requires only one shot.

You can protect your body from the coronavirus by receiving any of these vaccines and reap their benefits. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, check out Vaccines.govfor places near you that administer vaccines. Some dentists like the Los Angeles emergency dentist, Dr. Kezian, are also qualified to give the vaccine. So if you live in California, reach out to Dr. Kezian and his 100% fully vaccinated dental staff and schedule your appointment to finally get vaccinated.

But if you’re still not convinced and have concerns, it’s time to put them to rest once and for all.

What’s Keeping You From Getting Vaccinated? COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Debunked

Thanks to social media, it’s no surprise that there are a lot of conspiracy theories and false information about the COVID-19 vaccines. It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction in these cases and the only ones who suffer the consequences of these false claims are you who decide not to get vaccinated. Here we are going to debunk these myths one by one to put your mind at ease so you can finally get the protection that vaccination offers.

Myth 1: The COVID-19 vaccine will make women infertile

This myth claims that women who receive the COVID-19 vaccine cannot get pregnant afterward because the agents in the vaccine will attack the placental proteins that are similar to spike proteins of the coronavirus. What these claims don’t mentionis that the two proteins have different amino acid structures. So the vaccine components will not mistake the placental proteins with the proteins of the virus. This myth is proven wrong further by 23 women who got pregnant after receiving the Pfizer vaccine in its trial phase.

Myth 2: I don’t need the vaccine because I’ve already had COVID-19

If you’ve already had COVID-19 and recovered from it, your body has developed a level of natural immunity against it. Some claim that this immunity is enough to protect you from getting reinfected, but that’s not completely true because we don’t know how long this immunity will last and how much it can actually protect you. In fact, a lot of COVID-19 survivors have reported catching the disease again. But this is not the case with vaccines because they’ll create a better protection in your body against the virus that will last longer. If you’ve recovered from COVID-19, CDC says that you can wait 90 days and then get vaccinated.

Myth 3: COVID-19 vaccine has dangerous side effects

All vaccines have some side effects and the COVID-19 vaccines are no exception. But these side effects are neither severe nor dangerous. You can expect mild headaches, low-grade fevers, muscle soreness, and fatigue as side effects of the vaccine. They are nothing compared to the serious dangers of the disease itself and should subside within a few days. Plus, doctors will keep an eye on you after administering the vaccine to make sure you don’t react negatively to it. So there is no need to worry

Myth 4: Vaccines will put a tracking device in my body

This rumor spread all over social media after viewers misinterpreted a video from a company that provides injection devices. They gave their customers the option to purchase a product with a microchip in its label that could help track the origin of the vaccine. This chip couldn’t track patients as it was not going to be injected into their bodies. Other rumors and conspiracy theories added to the heat of this myth and changed the minds of people about getting vaccinated. As an office with a 100% fully vaccinated dental staff, we can assure you that none of us are being tracked and there is nothing in the vaccines but components that will help protect you against COVID-19.

Myth 5: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed too fast so it can’t be safe or effective

It’s true that the vaccines were developed quickly, but that’s just because the technology used for creating them was being studied for decades. The scientists were only waiting for the genetic makeup of the coronavirus to be identified and once it was, they immediately put it to use. With so much funding backing up the research, they quickly developed the vaccines that successfully passed the strict trials and were finally approved for use. So the vaccines currently available are completely safe and quite effective.

Myth 6: The COVID-19 vaccine will alter my DNA

This is another false claim that sounds scary enough to keep people from thinking about vaccination. The truth is the components of the vaccine send instructions to your DNA from your cell’s cytoplasm. Your DNA resides in your cell’s nucleus so there is no direct interaction and the vaccine doesn’t alter your DNA.

If you browse the internet, you will find a lot more of these myths and conspiracy theories that are not backed by any reliable source and are only there to get more viewers at the cost of making them hesitant about vaccination and risking their safety. So before you believe any of these claims, check their sources and ask healthcare professionals for more information.

Now you can safely visit the dentist

Oral health professionals like dentists play an important part in putting an end to this pandemic. By educating their staff and patients on the benefits of vaccination, they can encourage them to get vaccinated and protect themselves and everyone around them.

That is exactly what Dr. Kezian, an emergency dentist in Los Angeles has done. All the staff members at Dr. Kezian’s office have been fully vaccinated and they encourage you to get vaccinated too so you can finally come back to the office and get your teeth checked and stop ignoring your oral health. Even if you’re not vaccinated yet, you can still come to the office because Dr. Kezian and his 100% fully vaccinated dental staff are following the COVID-19 protocols strictly to create a safe and hygienic place for you. So call the office of Dr. Kezian today and schedule an appointment. And if you’re still unsure about getting vaccinated, maybe Dr. Kezian can help you decide.

Larchmont Dental Associates

Dr. Michael A. Kezian DDS

581 N. Larchmont Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90004

(323) 465-2127

https://www.larchmontdentists.com

References:

California Dental Association– Recommendations versus requirements: Managing unvaccinated employees
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention– Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
Mayo Clinic– COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts