Is it safe to go to the Dentist?
As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, one question we are often asked is "Do you think it’s safe to go to the dentist?"
Each individual or family will need to answer that to their complete satisfaction. But here are some facts that may help you decide.
Dental offices are actually one of the safest places you can be. Dentistry is a profession of obsessive-compulsive cleaners. Treatment rooms are cleaned with bactericidal and viricidal cleaners before & after each patient visit.
We utilize barrier protection to prevent germs from spreading when we touch things. All instruments are heat sterilized and used only on you before they are sterilized again.
In addition to utilizing many disposable products, we wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the safety of our patients.
Recently, you may have heard about aerosols and their potential danger, especially as it relates to COVID-19. Aerosols are a part of our daily lives. When you speak, cough, sneeze, laugh and breathe, you generate aerosols from your body into the surrounding environment.
Our human bodies have a well-developed immune system to protect us from any potential dangers we may be exposed to from aerosols. As it specifically relates to aerosols generated in a dental office, the American Dental Association (ADA) has been a leader in helping dental offices remain safe before, during and after the pandemic. With guidelines that have been developed through science and fact, this includes improved safety measures which were developed with both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Dentistry was safe before the COVID-19 outbreak and it remains safe after.
To date, we know of no major COVID-19 outbreak from a dental office, throughout the entire world.
Our dental practice open! We are operating with no limitations and are treating patients of record.
Patients who have been here, as well as our dental team members, felt safe the entire time.
Since the pandemic began, dental offices (including ours) have been taking additional safety measures to protect our patients and our team. These include:
Social distancing
COVID-19 screening before each patient visit including taking temperatures
Limiting the number of people who are in the office at all times
Sanitization of patient hands & devices
Increased PPE for both patients and the dental team
Limiting of aerosol generating procedures
WE WANT YOU TO ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE & SAFE AT OUR OFFICE. We also want our team members to feel safe in our work environment.
As we begin performing routine dental care, you can be assured that our entire team has been in constant communication during the shutdown period, we have studied the latest information & research on how to best care for our patients, and we have implemented the above protocols to keep you, and us, safe during your visit.
We look forward to seeing you soon!Dr’s Coloman and Stephen Kondorossy
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