Carolina Dentistry announced a new way North Carolinians can receive help with oral and dental health care during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The health care facility launched its new Virtual Oral Health Care Helpline on Monday, a teledentistry service to help those in the state with non-emergency dental health issues or questions. According to Carolina Dentistry, the service aims to reduce the burden of dental emergencies on emergency departments, including UNC Health, during the coronavirus outbreak, while also allowing people to receive tips without having to leave their homes.

When calling the line, users can receive advice on non-urgent oral health needs and referrals for dental emergencies that need to be handled in-person. Oral health care providers across North Carolina can also use the hotline for speaking with specialists for patient consultations and referring patients with dental emergencies.

“The Carolina Dentistry Virtual Oral Health Care Helpline is a service we are pleased to offer to the people of our state in these uncertain times,” said Scott S. De Rossi, DMD, MBA, president of Carolina Dentistry, in a statement about the hotline. “This allows patients to identify whether or not they are having a dental emergency before coming to see us, and also perhaps save them a trip to Chapel Hill if another emergency care option is closer to them locally. Additionally, this service helps keep dental emergencies out of hospital emergency departments — allowing UNC Health and others to focus on those with other emergent needs.”

Patients may call the Virtual Oral Health Care Helpline at 919-537-3088 from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. According to Carolina Dentistry, the initial call is free and additional services may have a charge. For after-hours urgent care, patients are encouraged to call 919-537-3364. If a patient is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, the health care service says they should contact their nearest emergency department.

Carolina Dentistry is headquartered in Chapel Hill and comprises the clinical operations conducted at UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry.

Photo via the UNC Adams School of Dentistry.

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