Due to COVID-19, dentist offices have been closed to help prevent the spread of disease. Now that practices have begun to open again for non-emergencies, some people are worried about whether it’s safe to go in for cleanings, checkups, and the like.
What are dentists doing to protect against COVID-19?
Strict adherence to infection control procedures is something that dental offices have long been known for. There have always been special guidelines on how to keep both the offices and tools sterile in order to prevent disease transmission. With the recent pandemic, offices like Twin Dental have adopted additional procedures that have been recommended by the CDC.
Some of these safety guidelines include:
- Cleaning everything in the exam room between each patient. This means that, before a patient even enters, the countertops, chairs, various handles, and other items are cleaned in order to destroy any contaminants which may be present.
- If there are any items in the room that may be too difficult to sanitize repeatedly, they will be removed or a protective cover will be placed over them, which is replaced after each patient.
- Some dental tools are disposable. These will be discarded after being used for one patient.
- For any tools that can’t be thrown away, a sterilization process is used after each patient has been seen.
- For the protection of both the dental team and the patient, the staff will wear PPE—personal protective equipment. These gloves, masks, gowns, and eyewear will be replaced after each patient.
These are only a few of the steps being taken to keep everyone in the office safe, but there are additional things that can be done that go beyond the recommendations of the CDC. Aerosol suction and filtration, HEPA air purifiers, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL) fog, and more can be implemented to ensure a safe environment for both the patient and dental team.
We want to put you at ease, so if there are any questions or concerns you have about what our office is doing to keep you safe, please contact us and let us know.
