On the 27th of March this year, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made a recommendation that would affect the oral healthcare industry. They moved to postpone most dental services (except dental emergencies) as part of their efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay.
It’s been seven months since the world came to know about the novel virus. While there remains to be no known cure, most countries have begun to ease quarantine restrictions to prepare people for the “new normal.”
Among those that have started opening their doors to accommodate patients are people working in the field of dentistry. Knowing that COVID-19 is still upon us, every dentist in Pembroke Pines and all over the United States came up with different ways to treat their patients while keeping themselves safe. They also understand that going to the dental office can be tough these days, so they came up with ways to ease everyone’s worries by making a list of their solutions to the challenges dentists face today.
The Rise of Online Consultations
In today’s day and age, we are constantly using electronics. We can do many things with our tablets, phones, and other devices. This also means that things have changed in the dentistry world. At Prime Dental, among many Covid-19 protocols, we have implemented online consultations. Patients no longer have to wait in waiting rooms to see the dentist. Patients don’t have to make appointments that take weeks of waiting to attend. We have simplified the whole process with online consultations.
With Prime Dental online consultations you can easily connect with Prime Dental expert dentists in your area or even overseas via an online tool similar to the new and popular Zoom app. If you are traveling for work and have an oral health problem, all that you would need to do is request a time via email and you have an appointment shortly thereafter. If you are in a situation where you are pressed for time and can’t make it to Prime Dental, you needn’t worry, we got your back.
Prime Dental Covid-19 Protocols
Usually, at a medical or dental practice, people expect many other people waiting inside the office waiting area, but in order to decrease the number of numbers in the waiting room, Prime Dental has different options in place to keep all their patients safe & sound.
– Valet Check-in. Patients can wait in their cars instead of the waiting room.⠀
– Temperature is taken on everyone when they arrive.⠀
– Larger periods of time between patients, in order to properly disinfect the premises.⠀
– Prime Dental uses hospital-level disinfection in all areas in our office, and our team is highly trained in these protocols.⠀
– Prime Dental sterilizes every instrument used. Items that cannot be sterilized are disposable. ⠀
– Prime Dental practice all CDC and OSHA standards of infection control on a daily basis, even prior to this virus. We treat everything to the highest standards for our patients’ and employees’ safety.⠀
– Prime Dental has a good supply of PPE (masks, gloves, gowns, and protective eye wear). ⠀
– Prime Dental would be happy to give everyone a tour of our infection control protocols. We take pride in our high standards of disease prevention.⠀
Keeping Both Parties Safe
With the absence of a cure, prevention is the only way people can protect themselves from COVID-19. Since it’s difficult to identify who has it and who doesn’t, patients are required to follow safety protocols.
Aside from filling out pre-screening forms, patients must wear face masks and personal protective gear (PPE) before going to the clinic. Patients will be greeted by a staff member who will conduct temperature scans and ensure that they’re have sanitized their hands and answer a Covid-19 questionnaire.
Before and After Treatment
Social distancing is also key to keeping COVID-19 at bay. Maintaining this distance, however, can be tricky especially if you’re oral healthcare professional. Dentists need to be as close to their patients as possible to properly address their concerns. Since that’s the case, dentists should allow enough time to clean themselves thoroughly before and after every single procedure.
The threat of COVID-19 is complicated, but it doesn’t mean we should put our lives on hold. We can find ways to work around it so we can continue to enjoy life without putting ourselves at risk.