The COVID-19 pandemic is changing so much about our daily lives, from shopping for groceries to talking with our loved ones. Some of these changes may stick around long after we develop a vaccine, such as washing our hands more frequently. One practice that may remain is the way that dentists clean their offices. Dental offices were already incredibly sterile before all of this, but now they have gone above and beyond in ensuring their patients’ safety. Here are a few of the steps that your dentist near Severna Park takes to keep their office as clean and germ-free as possible.
Screening Patients
Before your appointment begins (often before you even are permitted to enter the office), a member of your dentist’s staff will ask you a few quick questions about your recent health to make sure you don’t have any symptoms of the coronavirus. They will also take your temperature with a non-contact thermometer.
Wearing Additional PPE
Besides their stylish scrubs, all that your dentist used to wear during your appointment was a fresh mask and a pair of gloves. That isn’t going to cut it anymore. Instead, your dentist and their clinical team will be wearing more personal protective equipment (PPE) than they normally do. This includes items like face shields, shoe coverings, and surgical gowns if necessary. Additionally, these items will be replaced after each patient.
Thoroughly Cleaning the Office in Between Patients
Your dentist isn’t seeing quite as many patients as they used to before the pandemic struck. As a result, their staff has more time to clean the office in between each patient. Commonly touched surfaces like doorknobs are wiped down, and the dental instruments are thoroughly disinfected. In addition, the entire office is deep cleaned every evening after closing.
Having Patients Rinse and Sanitize
Before your appointment can properly begin, a member of your dentist’s team will ask that you wash your hands or use extra-strength hand sanitizer, which will be provided. After that, you will be asked to rinse your mouth out with mouthwash, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, or some other form of antimicrobial mouth rinse. This will greatly reduce the number of germs in your mouth, decreasing the odds that these germs will infect the dental team and subsequent patients.
As you can see, your dentist near Severna Park takes great care to ensure your safety during COVID-19. For more information about how exactly they keep their practice clean, visit their website, or give them a call.
About the Author
Dr. Devon Conklin earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2009 from the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. She has attended extensive post-graduate courses at the prestigious Pankey Institute in areas like restorative dentistry. Her practice in Millersville, MD follows all of the practices listed in this post and more in order to keep her patients safe from infection. To learn more about these safety precautions, visit her website or call (410) 729-9090.