Consulting a dentist during this pandemic situation. Is it fine to go to the hospital?

Due to hypothyroidism (which increases the chances for periodontal disease), I visit the dentist four times a year for routine cleaning, vs the usual two, and have continued to do so since the pandemic started. It recently came out that periodontal disease can actually make COVID worse if you get sick, so I'm glad I kept up with my routine. I'm 63, so I'm in the higher-risk category for the virus, but I don't let that get in my way.

I recommend that you take your mom to the dentist for an examination. Ask about their COVID protocol, but they'll probably tell you about it up front. At my dentist, patients are instructed to call the office from their cars when they arrive. A technician will come out to the car, take the patient's temperature and screen for virus symptoms with a series of yes/no questions. The patient then remains in the car until advised by phone call to enter the office.

Once in the chair, the patient is given a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution and rinses his or her mouth thoroughly before examination and/or treatment. The dentist and technician are gowned, gloved and wear an N95 mask, goggles AND a face shield. (Office personnel have plexiglass shields surrounding their desks, too.)

Good oral health is essential, especially now. If your mom is having a problem, please help her get it taken care of ASAP. And if she's in severe pain, you want to alleviate that ASAP as well.

Take her to a dentist. It's totally fine to do. Remember, you (the patient) are the one without a face covering, so the dentist and assistant are really covered up well.

I'd do that before going to the hospital. Iso she was hit in the face and had injuries, I'd take her there, but it sounds like a broken tooth. Not a hospital-level crisis.

There’s no reason not to seek help for your mother. She’s suffering in severe pain. Dental infections can be deadly. There is no reason to make your mother suffer.

My daughter went to the dentist yesterday. All the rules were followed and she felt safe.
Ive been in the hospital twice during Covid and been with my husband when he had to go. No problems.
You are right to be concerned about the possible infection affecting her health. Don’t wait until it’s an emergency. She may have to take antibiotics to clear up any infection before the doctor can deal with it.

We are sort of in the same situation. My father needs to go to a dentist because of tooth pain but he doesn’t want to go with this pandemic. He fell and broke his ribs recently and was forced to go to the hospital to get checked out. Thankfully he wore his mask and did not get Covid, but I understand your fears. I normally would say not to go to hospital unless it’s absolutely necessary. Which for my father in this case I felt it was.