(Edit: The way I originally wrote this comment came off as apologetics. I’m not changing it for sake of authenticity. Please note at the outset that I’m speaking from the perspective of preserving community health while taking as much precautions as one is able to. I’m not making an argument for individual actions to mitigate COVID being enough.)

The whole getting made at scheduling a non-emergency dental appointment thing is a little strange to me. There’s a lot to be mad at, but people still need to receive healthcare. Of course you should take as many precautions as possible. You can insist your provider wear an n95 and take other precautions. You can even lie and say you live with a severely immunocompromised person. Hopefully your provider will understand your concerns and work with you.

I’m gonna use one of liberals’ favorite words here in sec, but hear me out. Insisting people postpone healthcare, even routine healthcare like your annual dental appointment, seems counterproductive. Not in a social sense that saying so can make people take a reactionary stance, “How dare you tell me what to do and when to go to the doctor.” More in the sense that routine, preventative care is essential for community health.

I’m probably wrong somewhere in my analysis. I’ve definitely not thought this all the way through. Any other perspectives are appreciated.

(Edit again: I figured out what was bothering me about the being mad about making a non-emergency dental appointment thing so much. It’s just really American take. Kinda assumes that dental care is somehow separate from healthcare, and moreover that preventative care is less important than emergency care.)