Blog

Now that the COVID-19 curve has started to decline around the country, many dentists are once again reopening to provide a full spectrum of services. You don’t want to visit, though, if it poses a threat to your health. To ensure your safety, your local dentist will meet or exceed the guidelines issued by the CDC, OSHA, and ADA. Read on to get some specific details about what’s being done to protect you from COVID-19.

Careful Standards in Place

Even under normal circumstances, dentists follow very strict guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone in the office. Thus, they are well equipped to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The following standard procedures are already in place:

• Washing hands thoroughly with water and soap (plain or antimicrobial), and performing careful hand scrubs when preparing for oral surgery
• Use of personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, eyewear) to prevent the dentist and staff from being exposed to infection
• Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, advising patients and staff to cough into the crook of the arm
• To provide signage for patients with cough or symptoms related to respiratory illness, as to limit the possible transmission of infection
• Safe injection practices to prevent exposure to infection
• Sterile instruments and devices to prevent the transmission of microorganisms
• Clean and disinfected environment surfaces, with trash cans available

In addition to meeting the above guidelines, you can expect your dentist to take even more safety precautions.

Added Measures in Place to Protect You

In keeping with federal, state and local guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, here are some of the other in-house standards that have been implemented to maintain the safest environment possible:

• Advanced staff training
• Daily health checks for the dental office team
• A no handshakes or hugs policy
• Increased personal hygiene standards
• Staff changing out of work clothes in-office
• Anti-microbial rinses provided for patients
• The addition of a virtual waiting room to limit office congestion
• No outside patient gloves allowed
• Sequenced patients scheduling
• Pre-screening of every patient
• Expanded patient appointments
• Efforts taken to maintain social distancing
• Cleaning after every appointment
• Deep cleaning every evening
• CDC-approved instrument sterilization
• No magazines or activities in the waiting area
• Installed clear barriers

A New Experience

While your next visit to your dentist will be a little different than what you remember in the past, you take comfort in knowing that your overall and dental safety are of the utmost importance. By dentists taking these extra precautionary steps to stave off another spike of COVID-19 cases, it will be much easier to get back to leading a normal life.