Dentists and other health professionals always follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety of their team and patients. Changes have been made since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow patients to get the care that they need while significantly reducing the risk of falling ill. Continue reading to learn about the new steps that your dentist in Waverly is taking to protect those in the office from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Safety Champion
This is a member of the staff that will be given specific responsibilities including greeting patients, answering questions, and monitoring the area to ensure that new social distancing guidelines along with other measures are being enforced. Ultimately, the safety champion is there to help keep the office as low risk as possible so that patients can get the care that they need without worrying about being exposed.
Daily Health Checks
When the staff come into the office each day, they are required to answer a quick set of questions about their current health. The team also have their temperature taken using a no-contact thermometer. Doing this ensures that the staff are not experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms and that they are able to provide safe dental care to patients each day.
Changing Clothes at Work
In the past, your dental team would get dressed into their scrubs at home before coming into the office. Now, the staff change into their freshly cleaned work clothes when they get to the practice. They change out of their scrubs before they leave the office as well.
Additional Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Your dentist and hygienist always wear PPE when they are treating you. Normally this would consist of a surgical mask, gloves, and eye protection. For your safety, they are wearing even more. Now, the administrative team at the front desk will be wearing ASTM Level 3 masks and the clinical team will be wearing face shields to protect you and themselves.
Sequenced Patient Scheduling
Appointments are now being scheduled further apart. This helps to give the dental staff plenty of time for additional thorough cleaning. It also reduces the probability of unnecessary contact between patients.
Installed Clear Barriers
There have been hard plastic guards placed strategically around the practice. They are effective at blocking the movement of airborne particles. These barriers are regularly disinfected.
Removal of Magazines
Even though the waiting time won’t be quite as entertaining, the removal of frequently touched items like magazines and toys makes the office a safer place.
Advanced Chairside Suction
Whenever possible, your dental team will activate a high-speed evacuation to minimize aerosol contamination in the treatment room. This will improve the air quality in the office.
Just because we’re living through a pandemic doesn’t mean that you need to neglect your oral health. With the new dental safety protocols in Waverly, you can get the treatment you need while having peace-of-mind.
About the Author
Dr. Jonathan Smiley is a family dentist serving Waverly and surrounding communities. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Afterwards, he continued his education with advanced training from the Dawson Dental Academy. Dr. Smiley is also a member of the American Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. He and his team are taking 15 additional steps to keep the office safe. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (319) 352-2270.