Putting in the Work: 4 Ways Dental Offices Prepare for Your Appointment During COVID-19

Dental teams have always worked hard to make sure that their offices are completely sterile and pristine. Even outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices adhere to the standards set by organizations like the CDC and OSHA to keep patients safe. Now that offices are starting to re-open, dental professionals are holding themselves to even higher standards to negate the possibility of the virus spreading. Here are four ways that your dentist in Loveland is taking steps to protect you before you even walk in the door.

1.) Daily Health Screenings

It’s important that both the dental team and patients are not at risk of spreading the virus to one another. Every day, before the practice opens, each team member receives a no-touch temperature check as well as a questionnaire assessing the likelihood of their exposure to the coronavirus. Patients will receive this same procedure before their appointment. This small step ensures that both you and the dental team stand a much smaller chance of getting each other sick.

2.) Advanced Personal Protective Equipment

PPE (personal protective equipment) is always used during dental procedures. Your dentist, hygienist, and assistant always wear a mask and gloves to protect you from germ transmission. During the pandemic, they are taking this a step further by using things like face shields and surgical gowns in their daily practice. These serve as additional protection against microorganisms.

3.) Nominating an Infection Control Coordinator

It is the responsibility of an infection control coordinator to make sure that each team member is doing their part and adhering to the practice’s safety and sanitation protocols. This important role ensures that no part of an office’s COVID-19 plan is missed.

4.) Keeping Scrubs Sterile

Team members now change into and out of their scrubs at the office. This helps to guarantee that the scrubs do not come into contact with any outside contamination.

Your dentist’s first priority is to keep you safe when you visit the practice. These four things, combined with more rigorous cleaning and sterilization plans, help to ensure that you can get the comprehensive care you need without risking your health.

About the Author

Dr. Mark Gerome wants each of his patients to have optimal health. He and his team work hard to make sure that they create a safe, comfortable environment during each visit. Since graduating from dental school at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he has spent decades advancing his education and providing the best dentistry possible. He is a member of many prestigious dental associations, such as the Spear Study Club, the American Dental Association, and the Ohio Dental Association. During the pandemic, he and his team at Gerome & Patrice Family Dentistry are adhering to very high safety standards. If you’d like to learn more about these standards, give them a call at (513) 677-1349 or send them an email.