Michael Bonanno, CEO of dental appointment and insurance service Virtual Support Solutions, launched US Dental Triage, a 24-hour national hotline for dental patients.
Before the pandemic, someone visited the emergency room with a dental concern every 14 seconds, according to a report from the American Dental Association. Additionally, there is now an influx of dental patients in emergency rooms due to the many nationwide dental office closures.
"We launched US Dental Triage for those who are having challenges finding someone to treat them or are going into emergency rooms and becoming at risk of contracting the coronavirus," said Mr. Bonanno in a news release emailed to Becker's.
US Dental Triage has a staff of more than 50 working to connect patients with dentists who can address their needs. Patients will be given the chance to schedule a virtual consultation with a dentist to discuss the urgency of their situation and see if it warrants an emergency appointment.
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