Many changes have been made over the past few months to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. With so many new adjustments made to your life, going anywhere seems as if it could be a potential threat to you and your family. You believe going in for your regular dental visits is important, but is it worth the risk? To minimize your worries, your dentist in Melbourne can tell you how dental offices are adapting to this new normal in order to keep their patients and themselves safe.
What Are the Four Types of Extra Safety Gear That Dentists Are Using?
- Gloves: Along with their normal hand hygiene routines between each patient, your dentist will use a clean pair of disposable gloves before attending to you. This provides an extra protective barrier and will be properly disposed of at the end of your appointment.
- Eye protection: Your dentist may choose to wear goggles or another protective type of eyewear. This can prevent small droplets of saliva or other potentially infectious bodily fluids from making contact with their eyes. When your dentist is protected, so are you.
- Surgical masks: Wearing a face covering is recommended by the CDC in order to prevent you or someone else from unknowingly spreading the virus to others. This is especially important for dentists because of their close proximity to their patients. By using one, they are adding an extra layer of protection and limiting possible exposure to COVID-19.
- Protective clothing: To prevent their clothes from becoming contaminated, your dentist may wear extra garments, such as a gown, over their regular scrubs. It prevents bodily fluids that could transmit the virus from getting on them and spreading further. Protective clothing will be removed and properly washed or disposed of after it is used.
Other Ways Your Dentist Will Keep You Protected
In addition to personal protective equipment, your dentist and their staff are taking other measures to ensure your safety. Some of these may include:
- Personal hygiene routines: Hand washing has always been important in a dental setting. Now, staff at dental offices are washing their hands and using disinfectants even more to limit the transmission of COVID-19.
- Physical barriers: Many dental practices have installed physical barriers between employees and patients. You may encounter this in reception areas.
- Minimalizing overlapping appointments: Spacing out appointments limits the amount of people in the office at the same time. This makes it easier to practice social distancing in a waiting room setting.
- Telephone screening: Before your appointment, your dentist will likely call you and ask about your current health. They want to confirm that you aren’t experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19.
- Providing hygiene supplies: Your dentist’s staff will make hygiene supplies, like hand sanitizers and tissues, available to you.
Even during these uncertain times, you can still get the dental care you need. Many dental offices are reopening, and your dentist is prepared to take extra steps so you can enjoy peace of mind at your next visit.
About the Author
Dr. Beverly Rose has been in private practice in the Melbourne, FL area for over two decades. She and her team provide an individualized approach to each patient to ensure a comfortable experience. She would be happy to address any safety concerns that you may have about visiting the dental office. For more information, visit her website, or call (321) 259-4666.