With the threat of the coronavirus looming on the horizon for nearly everyone, people everywhere are taking extreme measures to clean their environment. Your dentist in Houston is no exception. Simply spraying their tools with store-bought disinfectant, unfortunately, isn’t enough to kill the germs that cause COVID-19. There are several steps that dentists take to prevent germs from taking hold. Keep reading to learn what some of those steps are.
Additional PPE
Dental professionals already wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks and gloves, and wash their hands between each patient. However, to take this step further, your dental team is wearing extra PPE. These items include double face masks, face shields, shoe coverings, and surgical gowns. Taking this precaution helps prevent the transmission of germs from patient to patient, and also from staff member to patient and vice versa.
Changing Work Clothes at Work
No longer will you see your dentist or hygienist wearing their usual scrubs while shopping at the grocery store or out at a restaurant. Instead, the staff at your dentist’s office will wear normal clothes to work and bring their scrubs with them, changing at the office. At the end of the day, they replace their scrubs with the clothes they arrived in. This prevents germs from the staff’s households from being transferred to the office and to the patients.
Frequently Cleaning Surfaces
Every surface that a patient touched, such as the dental chair or doorknobs, is thoroughly disinfected after the patient leaves and before the next one is treated. The team will use a powerful EPA-friendly disinfectant to clean every surface several times a day to kill any pathogens that may lie on these surfaces.
Using Extra Suction Techniques
Your dentist may use an extra oral, which is a machine used outside of the mouth. It is a high-powered suction device that absorbs all the aerosol particles from when your dentist uses a drill. This prevents contamination from these particles.
Preventive Rinsing
Upon entering the dental office, you may be asked to rinse with either an antimicrobial mouthwash or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. This will help kill germs present in your mouth, which in turn keeps those germs from contaminating the instruments your dentist uses.
As you can see, your dentist takes these health and safety measures incredibly seriously. It should be completely safe for you to see your dentist for non-emergency appointments like cleanings. For more information on your dentist’s safety protocols, give them a call.
About the Author
Dr. Donald Tamborello has been a dentist in Houston for more than 30 years. As a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, he has proved his dedication to clinical excellence and continuing education courses. To learn more about the precautions he and his team take to ensure a safe dental environment, visit his website or call his office at (713) 522-7540.