Here is what you may expect on your visit:
- social distancing through scheduling patients with sufficient time between appointments
- reading materials will be removed from the reception area
- common spaces that patients contact, such as the reception desk, door knobs, and furniture, will be wiped down with CDC-approved antiviral materials on a regular and frequent schedule. These spaces, like dental office operatories, will be treated with appropriate chemicals and cleansers according to federal guidelines for the safety and security of everyone
- patients will be asked to wash their hands when they enter the office
- hand sanitizer will be available for patient use to avoid the spread of illness
- Wearing N95-level masks by the staff will be the standard of care at all times, along with face protection with shields, head coverings, and gowns to protect clinicians’ clothing
- when sitting in the operatory, patients will be asked to use an antiseptic rinse prior to dental treatment― this will decrease the amount of live viruses and bacteria that can spread potential infectious agents to other patients and members of the dental team
- elective procedures requiring a high-speed handpiece will be delayed on patients who are at high risk for having the virus until a later date when they can be medically cleared- this is because performing these procedures risks a higher potential for droplet spread of the virus if the patient is carrying it. In this situation, if a patient does require an emergency procedure, we will have to weigh the cost/benefit to the patient, staff, and to the patient when determining how to proceed
Non-disposable items like the dental tools are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental tools and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their hands and put on a new pair of gloves.
