Staying Safe at the Dentist – Office Procedures

During this COVID-19 pandemic, patients, dentists and all office staff have become more concerned than ever about health and safety. While our team has put safety first from the day we opened our practice, we believe that many of the new safety procedures driven by the pandemic are positive developments for the long-term. Because the issue of safety is so important in light of COVID, we will be running a six-part blog series about how dentists keep patients safe at the office.

Safe Dental Office Procedures

A key aspect of preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is the type of procedures used in dental offices. These procedures include:

• Wearing protective face masks at all times — patients, family and staff.
• Having patients use sanitizer upon entering the office.
• Implementing social distancing at patient check-in.
• Fogging the air after every patient in every room with the same sanitizing hypochlorous acid (electrolyzed salt water, 200ppm in 10-50micron droplets) that hospitals and airlines use and that grocery stores spray on your fruits and vegetables.
• Using a touchless check-in process.
• Asking health screening questions at check-in, or in some cases, before check-in.
• Encouraging social distancing in waiting areas by marking off seats too close together.
• Spacing appointments to reduce the number of people in the office at any given time.
• Requesting that patients not arrive early for appointments.
• Removing magazines, brochures, toys, TV remotes, etc., from waiting areas.
• Using touchless checkout and payment.
• Cleaning and disinfecting all public areas and surfaces, including door handles, chairs and washrooms, frequently and thoroughly.

As patients and staff get used to these new procedures, most find that aspects of the new office experience, such as having no magazines to read, are more than compensated for by less crowded spaces and, in most cases, less time spent waiting before, during and after procedures. And certainly, knowing that these office rules are designed to keep everyone safe and healthy makes all the changes welcome enhancements.

That you feel comfortable coming to McLean DDS is very important to us! Teeth and gums are extremely important to your overall health and appearance. Putting off even routine procedures such as cleanings for too long opens the door to dental problems that could become serious. This is why we are doing everything we can to keep your teeth — and the rest of you — in top condition during and after this pandemic.

If you have questions or concerns about health and safety at McLean DDS, please contact us. We are eager to provide whatever information you need.