Back in the old days, dentists would take a few minutes to wash their hands, throw on some disposable gloves and a mask, and be ready to perform any number of dental treatments. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic is causing many dental professionals to take a closer look at their current safety standards. The next time you need to visit a dentist in Bellingham, you can expect far more strict safety protocols to reduce disease transmission, which you can read about in more detail below!

Patient Accommodations

Dental visits should be easier and safer for patients during a pandemic, which is why dentists are taking many steps to make their visits more accommodating to their needs. For example, operating hours are longer so patients can get more dental treatments done and minimize the time they need to spend outside of the house. Practices are also making waiting areas virtual (by having patients wait in their vehicles instead), screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms, reducing the number of patients seen in a given day, establishing at-risk patient hours, and making it easier for entire families to complete visits.

Daily Healthy Checks of Team Members

COVID-19 is a relatively new type of virus, which means team members need to be trained in additional awareness and prevention programs to reduce disease transmission. Not only does this mean front desk employees, assistants, and hygienists need to have healthy checks performed daily, but they need to make sure their hygiene standards are increased. For example, team members cannot have long or fake fingernails or wear jewelry while in the office.

Changing of Work Clothes

Following the end of the work day, team members must change into clean clothing before exiting the office. Work clothes are either disposed of in proper receptacles or washed and sterilized thoroughly after each use. The last thing employees want to do is potentially spread germs they picked up while in the office or bring in germs they collected while wearing dental gear in public.

Better Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Dentists already wear surgical masks and gloves before treatments, but COVID-19 makes it even more important to wear additional PPE. This includes the use of disposable coats and hats. It’s also common to find installed clear barriers at the front desk and throughout the office between patients and team members.

Strict Sterilization Protocols

Sterilization of hands as well as the office itself are two of the most effective ways to stop the spread of disease because it outright kills the virus at its source. Some of these protocols include:

• Hospital-grade hand sanitation stations throughout the office
• Wiping, sanitizing and disinfecting all instruments, equipment and surfaces in all operatories after every patient leaves
• Deep cleaning at the end of the day
• Instrument sterilization that goes above and beyond CDC requirements

While pandemics are a big deal, dental disease is still a fact of life. With the right precautions in place, you can complete your dental appointment with confidence!

About Moreno & Young Dental

The dentists at Moreno & Young Dental take the current pandemic very seriously, which is precisely why you can expect fundamental changes in the way they operate when it’s time for your routine exam, cleaning, or other procedure. If you’re in need of care, feel free to contact their team through their website. They look forward to ensuring a safe and comfortable appointment every time you visit!