As Texas begins to open back up, dentists are preparing to welcome patients back into their offices. If you feel a bit uncertain whether it is safe to schedule a dental checkup right now, consider this: dentists and their staff already follow sanitary and safety guidelines set out by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). That makes the dentist’s office one of the cleanest places you could visit! In addition to these existing guidelines, many dentists are putting into place extra dental safety protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are 10 ways your dentist in Pasadena is boosting patient safety ahead of your next visit.
#1: No Extra Visitors
To reduce social contact, many dental offices are only permitting the patient or patient and caregiver or guardian to be present during their appointment. No extra visitors will be allowed to accompany the patient or linger in the waiting room.
#2: Waiting Outside
If patients arrive early to their dental appointment, they are politely asked to remain in their vehicle until their scheduled appointment time.
#3: Patient Questionnaires
All patients will be asked to fill out a COVID-19 screening questionnaire upon arrival.
#4: Universal Temperature Checks
In addition to the screening questionnaire, all patients will be asked to submit to a touch-free temperature check when they arrive at the dentist’s office.
#5: Staff Screening
Screenings are not only for patients! All staff members must also have their temperatures checked twice daily and complete the COVID-19 screening questionnaire each day.
#6: Social Distancing
By reducing the number of chairs in the waiting room, maintaining the recommended six feet of separation is possible. In addition, many practices are working to limit the time patients spend in the waiting room.
#7: Hand Sanitizer
Worried you will forget to wash your hands before you leave the house? Relax! Patients will be provided with access to hand sanitizer at check-in and check-out. In addition, many practices are equipping their restroom with antibacterial soap.
#8: Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Your dentist, dental hygienists and office staff will all be wearing appropriate personal protection equipment, including N95 masks, face shields, gloves and protective lab jackets.
#9: Additional Cleaning
Spaces where patients spend the most time, including the waiting room, the restroom, and the area around the dentist’s chairs, will all be cleaned more frequently.
#10: Preventive Rescheduling
If at any time patients display symptoms on the screening questionnaire, through their medical history or during a temperature check, they will be rescheduled for a later date. Likewise, staff displaying any symptoms will be sent home for evaluation by their healthcare provider.
Remember, oral health is an important part of overall health and a robust immune system, so seeing your dentist for a dental checkup has never been more important. Talk to your dentist in Pasadena today to learn what extra dental safety protocols he or she is putting into place before your next visit.
About the Author
Dr. Kimber Holmes has over 20 years of experience providing quality dental care to the Pasadena community. She always prioritizes patient safety, which is why she recently implemented a range of new dental safety protocols at Pasadena Family Dentistry. To learn more about what Dr. Holmes and her team are doing to keep patients safe and healthy, visit the Pasadena Family Dentistry website or call 713-946-5171.