The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to reconsider many aspects of their lives. Your dentist in Lawrenceville has had to think about the potential ways the virus can spread in their office while providing care. Using information from the CDC and the ADA, they’ve added multiple new policies to keep patients safe when they come in for an appointment. If it has been a while since your last dental visit, or you’re looking for a new dentist, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the new protocols being used. Read on to find out more about them.
Modified Scheduling
Your dentist loves helping as many people as possible. However, they’ve decided to change how they schedule patients to ensure they have the time to follow safety procedures. These changes include:
- Seeing less patients per day.
- Extending individual appointment times.
- Allow six family members to be seen at once to minimize contamination between households.
Staff Protection Policies
Your dentist would never want an infected staff member to treat patients, so they’re adding ways to protect them as well. Some things they are doing are:
- Providing teams with advanced training about new policies.
- Designating someone to be the safety champion for the day. This person will be responsible for making sure everyone is following the rules.
- Having staff complete a health and temperature check prior to starting work.
- Changing in and out of work clothes at the office.
- Not wearing jewelry, watches, or any items that viral droplets can land on.
Reduced Contact Protocols
Because touch allows the virus to spread, practices are attempting to limit close contact. They’re doing this by:
- Having patients wait in their cars prior to appointments.
- Using no contact greetings to welcome patients.
- No longer providing office tours.
More Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment is now being used by every member of the dental team. People at the front desk will be wearing ASTM Level 3 face masks, and those who are involved in providing care will use them along with N95 masks, face shields, and protective coats.
Your dentist knows that leaving your home for a health care procedure can be a stressful event during these times. Whether you’re a new patient or a returning one, your dentist will do everything in their power to keep you safe and give you a clean and healthy smile.
About the Author
Dr. Bruce Carter has been practicing cosmetic and restorative dentistry for over thirty years. As a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, he has made a significant commitment to continuing education. He stays abreast of the latest developments in dental safety procedures and is always looking for ways to implement them in his practice. If you’d like to know more about the protocols he is using to protect patients, you can reach him through his website or at 770-995-7616.