Even if the spread of COVID-19 cases is slowing down in your area, the disease still remains a threat for virtually everyone. As a result, cleanliness is more important than before to everyone. This especially includes your dentist in Hamden. Simply spraying their tools with disinfectant isn’t nearly enough to keep their practice germ-free, particularly during a pandemic. There are several additional steps that your dentist is taking to make sure their practice is free of germs, including those that cause COVID-19. Keep reading to learn a few of them.
Wearing Extra PPE
Your dentist and their hygienists and assistants normally wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves, and wash their hands between patients. These days, to ensure zero transmission of germs, your dentist will take it a step further by wearing double face masks, shoe coverings, and/or surgical gowns. Taking precautions like this helps prevent infection from patient to patient, patient to dentist, and dentist to patient.
Changing into Work Clothes at Work
A few months ago, you may have seen your dentist or hygienist going grocery shopping while wearing their scrubs. That is no longer the case. These days, your dental team will wear regular clothes to work and change into their scrubs when they get to the office. Once the workday is over, they change back into their normal clothes. This prevents germs from the staff members’ households from being transferred to the office, and thus to the patients.
Cleaning Surfaces Frequently
Every surface that a patient touches, like doorknobs and the dental chair, is thoroughly disinfected before and after each patient. These surfaces are cleaned with a powerful, EPA-friendly disinfectant that should kill all traces of germs, such as the coronavirus.
Using Additional Suction Techniques
Chances are your dentist will use an additional suction machine called an extra oral. This high-powered suction device absorbs all the aerosol particles that are created when your dentist uses a drill, such as during a filling. It prevents contamination from those particles.
Asking Patients to Rinse
When you first arrive at the office, a member of your dentist’s team may ask you to wash your hands and rinse with an antimicrobial rinse, such as mouthwash or a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. This should kill any germs that may be present in your mouth, minimizing your chance of infection.
Your dentist takes the health of their patients extremely seriously. That’s why they’re implementing all of these safety precautions and more. For information on how your dentist is keeping their office as safe as possible, just pick up the phone and give them a call.
About the Author
Dr. Ronald D’Andrea is a dentist in Hamden, CT who earned his doctorate at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. His professional memberships include the American Dental Association, the Connecticut Dental Association, and the American Academy of Clear Aligners. His practice follows all of these safety protocols and more. To learn more, you can visit his website.
