DentFirst Dental Care cares about your safety, and We work hard to prevent the spread of infection. We are screening patients to ensure the health and safety of all patients and team members.
Before you enter the examination room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles, and countertops, have been cleaned and disinfected. We cover some equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.
Non-disposable items like dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental items and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions require all team members involved in patient care to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eyewear, and gowns when needed. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their hands and puts on a new pair of gloves.
Your well-being is essential to our dental team. That’s why infection control procedures have and will always be in place at all locations.
What about the new Coronavirus?
With so many news stories, it’s understandable to be concerned about the new Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Please know that the precautions DentFirst Dental Care take daily to prevent the spread of infection in our practices also help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
You should reschedule your appointment if you are ill with flu-like symptoms and have a dry cough or temperature. If you or someone you are in close contact with have recently traveled to one of the countries with large outbreaks of COVID-19 (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) or if you have been exposed to someone else who was diagnosed with COVID-19 or who was quarantined as a precaution, wait 14 days until you see your dentist make sure you have not caught the Coronavirus.
If you are healthy, there’s no need to cancel your regularly scheduled dental appointment. It’s important to know that most people infected with the coronavirus experience flu-like symptoms and recover. Most people do not develop serious respiratory complications.
Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are older adults and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, among others. Children, thus far, have been largely unaffected.
Here are a few things you can do on your own to help keep yourself and those around you healthy:
- Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, or nose to reduce the spread of germs.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow. Infections like the Coronavirus spread through the tiny droplets in coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home if you feel sick. If you have flu-like symptoms or feel unwell, stay home and rest. Call your dentist to reschedule your appointment for a later date. This will reduce the risk of spreading your illness.
Visit the CDC’s website for the latest information on COVID-19.
