According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is believed to spread mostly between people in close proximity, which means dental offices need to ramp up their infection control procedures to protect their patients. Dental procedures involving dental tools (including hand tools and ultrasonic scalers) and air-water syringes produce a spray that may contain contaminated aerosols and droplets.
For those who have emergency dental issues, are not symptomatic for COVID-19 and have no history of potential exposure to COVID-19, the dentist will adhere to proper PPE and infection control protocols to protect the patient from contracting the disease. Common dental infection control procedures include the following.
Foremost, dental professionals need to identify suspected cases of coronavirus disease. Normally, a patient with coronavirus in the acute febrile stage should not visit the dental office. In this care, the dentist will identify the patient and not treat the patient in the dental office but instead, promptly quarantine the patient and report to the infection control department as soon as possible.
When patients come into the dental office, their body temperature will be measured. They will also have to answer questions about their medical history, travel history and potential contact with someone who might have had coronavirus. If the patient fits into a high-risk profile after the initial evaluation, they will be advised to self-isolate for 14 days and report any feverish feeling or flu-like symptoms to the local health department.
There are reports about fecal-oral transmission for COVID-19, which makes hand hygiene important in a dental office. Dental professionals must reiterate the importance of good hand hygiene. More specifically, dentists will wash their hands before examining the patient, before a dental procedure, after touching the patient, after touching unsterilized surfaces and equipment and after touching damaged skin or wounds, body fluid, blood, oral mucosa, secretion and excreta. Dental professionals will also be cautious and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
Using rubber dams can greatly reduce the production of saliva- or blood-contaminated aerosol or spatter, especially in procedures when high-speed hand tools and ultrasonic devices are needed. When using a rubber dam, additional high-volume suction for spattering and aerosol will be used during the treatment, as well as regular suction. In some cases, if rubber dam isolation is not possible, the dentist will use manual devices such as hand scalers for decay removal and periodontal scaling to reduce the production of aerosol as much as possible.
Dental offices are taking extra measures to ensure effective disinfection of the office area. Cleaning and sterilization are done in accordance with CDC guidelines. Public areas and devices will be cleaned frequently and disinfected, including door handles, chairs and desks. Every reusable instrument will be pre-treated, cleaned, sterilized and stored properly.
Dental offices will continue to observe best practices regarding infection control to keep patients safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have a dental emergency, contact the dentist as soon as possible for more information.
Request an appointment here: https://artisandentalbellevue.com or call Artisan Dental at (425) 454-2005 for an appointment in our Bellevue office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Google: Read our Google reviews.
Your teeth play a major role in your life. They help you eat and talk, and they complete your smile. Practicing oral hygiene basics will keep your teeth healthy so that they can serve you well for a lifetime.One of the most important aspects of dental hygiene is regular brushing. Do it twice a day.…
Although many people believe that plaque and tartar are the same, they actually have significant differences. Understanding the distinctions between these two dental conditions can help you identify their warning signs and practice oral hygiene basics to avoid them.Plaque is a soft film containing millions of bacteria that build up on your teeth, gums, and…
What are the best ways to care for your teeth? Here are some oral hygiene basics.Your teeth are essential to both comfort and health. For example, they are center stage when you smile and break up food when you eat. If you want to keep them sparkly and effective, you need to take good care…
When you visit the dentist, you expect to get your teeth cleaned and learn the current state of your dental health. However, many people overlook the expertise that dentists can provide about oral hygiene basics.In addition to caring for teeth, dentists can offer helpful recommendations for patients to maintain tooth health. Discuss these important topics…
