Our Safety Protocols
Learn more about how we minimize the spread of infection and the risk of COVID-19 transmission
The following safety protocols represent the latest recommendations on top of the ones I have been practicing with for decades. I ask all of you for your cooperation, patience and support with the following new protocols we will use in practice in the new dental reality.
All patients will be prescreened prior to arrival.
- Anyone who has symptoms such as flu-like symptoms, muscle aches and pains, productive cough, dry cough, high fever, sense of loss of smell and/or taste, difficulty breathing with feelings of pressure in the chest, or any combination are to be rescheduled
- If friends or family must accompany patients, we must prescreen them also
- Doctor and staff prescreened daily
Upon arrival
- Wear face masks.
- We will review the prescreening questions upon arrival.
- Maintain social distancing throughout office.
- We prefer that you do not bring friends or family who do not have scheduled appointments, but if you do need to be accompanied by someone, they will be prescreened as well.
- We have hand sanitizer available for patients to use in our office.
- A pulse oximeter will be used to evaluate oxygen saturation.
- A digital thermometer will be used to establish temperature
Increased Efforts to Disinfect Office and Waiting Area
- Regularly disinfecting bathrooms, furniture, doors and handles.
- Magazines are removed as they are not amenable to disinfection
Front Desk
- Surgical masks will be used
- Surgical scrubs
- Gloves
- No touch options for payments
- Wiping down touch screens and credit card machines after each use
Treatment Rooms
- Disposable plastic isolation wraps changed between patients
- All surfaces disinfected with a chemical germicide between each patient
- Flush all water lines (2 minutes prior to first patient visit)
- All treatment room water supplies are disinfected by the Sterisil System
- Increased PPE for all staff who provide dental care. Gowns, face shields, and N95 masks disposed of, or if reusable, disinfected thoroughly between each patient.
- Aerosol control through High Volume Evacuation (HVE) during dental procedures
- Increased use of rubber dams and Releaf aerosol control system
- Procedure times may be limited to reduce aerosols in treatment rooms
- Air will be purified with a virus eliminating air purifier such as the Blueair air purifier
