dentists

Covid-induced nightmares to “doomsurfing” to “coronaphobia,” it’s no secret that pandemic-related anxiety is affecting our collective mental health. That stress, in turn, leads to clenching and grinding, which can damage the teeth.But more specifically, the surge I’m seeing in tooth trauma may be a result of two additional factors.First, an unprecedented number of Americans are…

Doctors and other health care providers still prescribe highly addictive pain medications at rates widely considered unsafe. Critics say the practice exposes tens of millions of patients each year to unnecessary risk of addiction, overdose and death. Tracy Lee for NPR hide caption toggle caption Tracy Lee for NPR Doctors and other health care providers…

Spending lots of time in patients’ faces makes dentists and their staff uniquely vulnerable to contracting Covid-19. But dental offices are struggling to find the protective equipment they need, even as they begin to reopen across the country. While dentists are spending tens of thousands of dollars on air-purifying gadgets, air-suction devices and room filters,…

Routine physical exams — such as this one in pre-pandemic days — involved fewer gloves, masks and other safety measures. Today, doctors' offices and hospitals are taking many more precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Routine physical exams — such as this one in…

phase two of reopening businesses amid the coronavirus, a spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.But the New York State Dental Association says it believes regular dental care is allowed under phase two, and it’s using some language from the governor’s executive order to make its point.“The Governor’s office has not informed NYSDA that dentists…