Your dental team has always had strict disease prevention and infection control procedures in place. COVID-19 has not changed that. What has changed are some of the specific steps they take to ensure your safety. In the past, preparing for your appointments might have been a fairly simple process that involved thorough handwashing, instrument sterilization, and putting on fresh personal protective equipment (PPE). Now, even more precautions are necessary. In this article, we will discuss just a potion of the dental safety protocol in Hamden that is helping to protect you from COVID-19.
Safety Champions
Reputable organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, give dentists guidelines on how to prevent the spread of illness. Your dental team is determined to apply all such guidelines to the extent possible, right down to the smallest details. As true safety champions, they frequently offer each other reminders about how they can do their best to protect patients. They also enforce rules that require patients to take action. For example, you may be required to wear a face covering while you are in the office and not receiving treatment.
Daily Health Checks
Every member of your dental team knows that they must keep close watch on their own health in order to protect both their patients and their colleagues. That is why they willingly undergo a health screening each day before they begin work. The screening includes a temperature check and a questionnaire that assesses whether it is likely that they have contracted COVID-19. Patients must undergo a similar screening prior to each appointment.
Changing Work Clothes at Work
Before COVID-19 became a widespread problem, it was fairly common for dental team members to wear their scrubs while they were running errands around town. Now, that is not the case. Dental professionals travel to work in their regular clothes, then change into fresh scrubs when they arrive at the office. This simple practice can do much to reduce the risk that viruses or other harmful substances will transfer to patients from a team member’s clothing.
The Highest Standards of Cleanliness
Cleanliness is one of the main ways in which your dental team is preventing COVID-19. They have always maintained a tidy, clean office, but now their cleaning practices have reached new levels. They disinfect all high-touch surfaces, such as countertops and door handles, at least three times each day; they clean the operatories between each patient; and they perform a deep cleaning of the office each night after closing.
In this brief article, we have discussed just a portion of what your dental team is doing to maintain a safe and healthful environment. If you are curious to learn about additional steps they are taking, give them a call. They would be happy to discuss their safety protocol with you.
About New Haven Dental Group
New Haven Dental Group has four conveniently located offices in New Haven County, including one in Branford. Our expansive team of dentists, specialists, and support staff are proud to be looking after both the oral and overall health of patients during these unprecedented times. To learn more about us or our practice’s safety guidelines, contact us at 203-488-0091.