Currently all dental offices across Ontario are only providing emergency dental care, but that is going to change in the next few weeks as the number of new cases in Ontario is dropping. Within the next few weeks, dental offices are expected to reopen to normal capacity. These are the ways in which our office is going to increase public safety.
Air Purification & Surgically Clean Air
Our waiting room as well as each of our operatories contains medical grade Surgically Clean Air Purifiers that contain Hepa Filters and UV-C Light technology. These purifiers can clean office air in 5 minutes by trapping and killing airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold.
Protective Barriers
Our office has placed barriers in the front lobby as well as in the operatories to limit person-to-person exposure. This allows for complete functionality of the office space and has had great results in office settings.
Patient Screening
Before you visit our office, we screen patients for any signs of sickness. Our administrative team will thoroughly ask patients:
Do you cough, have a fever, or trouble breathing?
Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
Have you been in close contact with anyone who had Covid 19?
Have you been in close contact with anyone who has a fever, cough, or breathing issues?
Digital Medical Forms
Our office is fully digital, and therefore decreases the risk of Covid-19 spread by avoiding pen and paper which gets passed around to different people. Our forms can be completed online.
Hand Sanitizers and Face Masks for Patients
Our office makes available face masks for all patients and offers hand sanitizer upon entry and exit
Limited Time in Waiting Room
We kindly ask that each patient sits in their car after notifying us of arrival. Once we are able to see the patient, we can call them in and therefore avoid having to sit in the waiting room or in line. We also will stagger appointments to limit patient-to-patient interaction.
Personal Protective Equipment
In addition to the already stringent sterilization and protection guidelines our office abides by, we have now added items for additional safety for staff and for patients. These include N95 masks, face shields, full-body surgical gowns and nitrile gloves.
SUMMARY
Dental offices have the most stringently enforced infection control protocols of any public space. This was the case prior to elevated infection protocols that have been rolled out in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Protective barriers including N95 masks and Face Shields are very effective at preventing transmission. Added air purification systems that can absorb and eliminate aerosols at the source (chairside) ensure that the air you breathe is as clean as it gets. Of all the public spaces you could be occupying in the next 2-3 months, a dental office offers the highest infection prevention protocols.
Thank you for reading today’s post. If you have any further questions or would like to chat with our Hamilton Dentists, please reach out via the contact information provided below.
If you would like to book a consult to discuss Dental Crowns or other treatment options for a fractured or cracked tooth, call us at 905-574-2222 or feel free to request a consult, here.
This article is meant to provide basic dental information about dental conditions, treatment options, and oral health care. It is not meant to constitute direct clinical advice or diagnosis. For dental treatment information and precise costs, please contact your Hamilton Dentist.
