Update Letter From Dr. Forster:
Closure Until June 15th, Emergency Patients Only

March 21, 2020

Greetings from Dr. Forster!

Here is an update regarding the current status of dental care in the state of Oregon. Due to the current disease pandemic and anticipated surge in demand for supplies at hospitals all dental professionals have all been ordered to cease any non-emergency dental care. The governor, Kate Brown, issued Executive Order 20-10 two days ago and specified that it shall remain in effect until June 15th. This date may change, but for now that is our operational timeline. I have closed my office and in order to help with the shortage of supplies, donated surplus masks and gloves to the hospitals. Currently their need is higher and we choose to support them. Doctors and nurses on the front lines of this pandemic are true heroes.

If you have outstanding dental needs I encourage you to maintain proper home care, brush and floss regularly and be careful with your diet. It is probably not a good idea to eat a handful of almonds and drink copious amounts of soda if you know what I mean.

This does not mean that if you have a dental emergency you are without help. I am permitted to address urgent needs and will do so if necessary. In fact, it is better for me to help you than if you headed to an urgent care or emergency setting because those folks are super busy right now.

At this time I would like to help you understand what I mean by a "dental emergency." In short, a dental emergency includes significant pain and/or infection. Hopefully these scenarios will help you determine your needs:

• Q: I was eating something and the corner of my filling chipped. It isn’t sensitive or anything. Just a little rough and it bothers my tongue.

  A: That does not qualify as an emergency. Take it easy on that chipped tooth and call me as soon as we are open and we will get it taken care of.

• Q: I was eating something hard and suddenly *POW* my tooth felt like something cracked and it hurts a lot!

  A: Yes, this is an emergency. You are in pain and that should be addressed. Please call my office and you will be advised how to contact me directly.

• Q: I have a tooth that started feeling sensitive. Every time I drink ice water or hot coffee it bugs me a bit but otherwise it's ok.

  A: Not an emergency. Keep an eye on that sensitivity and if it gets a lot worse please call my office, contact me directly and we can talk about it on the phone to determine the best course of action.

• Q: I have had a tooth bothering me for a while and recently it has gotten a lot worse. I can't have anything hot or cold on that side and sometimes it starts hurting all by itself.

  A: Yes, that's a problem. Please call.

• Q: I have a tooth that has a painful swelling in the gums. It hurts every time I push on it.

  A: Sounds like an infection. You may need a root canal or you may have an abscess that needs immediate attention. Please call me and we can either take care of it for now with antibiotics or make arrangements to treat it directly at my office.

• Q: I ran out of whitening gel. Can I get a refill?

  A: Sure. As soon as we are open again we can get you a refill. Otherwise remember to wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.

• Q: My crown came off and the tooth is really sensitive.

  A: That may qualify as an emergency. Please call and we will talk it over and see what needs to be done.

• Q: My child fell down and landed on their face.

  A: Yes, call immediately.

This is just to help clear up some of the more common questions I am asked regarding dental concerns. There are certainly many more and if you are uncertain or would appreciate the peace of mind of speaking to me directly about it feel free to call 503-533-2330 and follow the procedures to get ahold of me. There are no charges or fees associated with speaking to me over the phone and I don’t mind helping out whenever I can. Please do call during normal waking hours if possible, unless you are in a lot of pain or are sincerely concerned.

Thanks so much and remember to stay home and stay healthy!

Dr. Forster