If you want to visit a dentist in Scarsdale, you may be wondering if it’s safe to see the dentist during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Can you really be safe while getting the dental care you need?
The answer is “yes.” And in this article, the team at Scarsdale Smiles will take a look at a few ways that dentists all throughout New York are protecting your oral health as you come in for routine dental care.
First, many dentists are implementing questionnaires for patients asking them about potential exposure to COVID-19, recent travel, and if they are feeling any symptoms that could be caused by COVID-19. Some dentists have also chosen to invest in touchless infrared thermometers, which can detect elevated temperatures. Patients with high temperatures or who may have been exposed to COVID-19 may be asked to reschedule their appointments for a later date.
Dentists are taking steps to encourage proper social distancing, such as reconfiguring waiting areas, and allowing patients to check in from their cars, and wait in their vehicle to avoid exposure to other patients.
Other steps include requesting that patients come alone, if possible, seeing fewer patients each day, and spreading out appointments more evenly throughout the day to reduce the number of patients in the office at any given time.
Dentists and dental team members have always worn gloves, eye protection, and surgical masks when treating patients. But now, additional PPE like N95 masks, custom-fitted face shields, surgical gowns, and even shoe protection and head coverings are recommended for some dental treatments.
In addition, used PPE should be left in the operatory where it was used for disinfection or disposal. This reduces the risk of transmitting any infection microbe between different patients and operatories.
Dentists and dental staff are already required by regulators like OSHA to properly clean, sanitize, and disinfect dental operatories between patients, but many dentists have stepped up their efforts further, and are exceeding these guidelines to ensure the risk of cross-contamination is minimized.
In addition, dental staff are now cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces like doorknobs, bathrooms, tables and chairs in waiting areas, and countertops regularly to help prevent the spread of any infectious virus or bacteria, including COVID-19 coronavirus.
We recently moved from our previous office, which was where Dr. Alex Cox operated for 9 years. Our new office is coming together, and we’re already offering emergency dentistry for our patients, using all of the recommended CDC, ADA, and OSHA precautions that we can.
In addition, we’re almost ready to begin accepting patients for routine preventive care once again. To see when you can schedule an appointment or learn more about how we’re safeguarding your oral health at our new office, just contact us online or give us a call at (914) 723-1186.
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