Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, your dental team had strict measures in place to protect your health and safety. That is why they always thoroughly washed their hands, sterilized their instruments, and made sure they were wearing proper personal protective equipment. Now, they are still doing all of that — plus some. In this article, we will touch on just a portion of the new dental safety protocol in Hamden that is in place to protect you during this pandemic season.
Safety Champions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and other organizations help dentists to maintain a healthful environment by providing detailed guidelines on infection control and disease prevention. Your dentist in Hamden and their team members carefully adhere to all such applicable guidelines, right down to even the smallest details. As true champions for safety, they offer each other reminders on how they can do their utmost to protect patients. They also help patients take action so they can contribute to a safe dental office environment. For example, patients may be required to wear a mask when they are not receiving treatment.
Daily Health Checks
Your dental team understands that they must keep a close eye on their own health in order to protect their colleagues and their patients. Therefore, they undergo a health screening every day before they start work. The screening includes a temperature check and a questionnaire that assesses whether it is likely that they have been exposed to COVID-19. Patients are required to submit to a similar screening before each appointment.
Changing Work Clothes at Work
Before COVID-19 became a major threat, it was not unusual for dental team members to wear their scrubs while they were running errands around town. You are much less likely to see that now. Dental professionals travel to work in their normal clothes, then change into freshly cleaned scrubs when they arrive at the office. This simple practice can do much to minimize the risk that viruses or other contagions will transfer to patients from a team member’s clothing.
The Highest Standards of Cleanliness
Cleanliness is one of the primary ways in which your dental team is fighting COVID-19. They have always maintained a clean office, but now their cleaning practices have reached new heights. They disinfect all high-touch surfaces at least three times each day; they clean the operatories between each patient; and they perform a thorough cleaning of the office each evening after closing.
In this short article, we have discussed just the fringes of what your dental team is doing to make sure you are entering a safe environment when you attend your appointments. If you are curious to learn what else they are doing, give them a call. They would be happy to explain their safety protocol to you.
About New Haven Dental Group
New Haven Dental Group has four conveniently located offices throughout our county, including one in Hamden. Our entire team is proud to be looking after both the oral and overall health of patients during these uncertain times. To learn more about us or our practice’s health and safety guidelines, contact us at 203-288-8221.