As the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) continues to disrupt our daily lives, Dr. Bowen and her team are taking strategic measures to apply the strictest dental office sterilization practices into place.
Requirements Specific To Dentistry
Dental offices have specific sterilization and disinfection requirements that have been amped up amid the coronavirus pandemic. We follow the recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA). These guidelines require extra diligence which our full staff is required to comply with.
Staff Safety Practices
Staff members are taking proactive precautions to protect themselves and our patients. This means extra handwashing with disinfecting soap before, between, and after seeing patients. Disposable gloves are to be worn, as well as PPE – face masks and face shields.
We value our staff and want them to remain as safe as possible while working closely with patients. Without the proper gear, the potential of contracting the virus is a possibility we don’t take lightly.
Sterilization of Surfaces
All office surfaces are disinfected completely throughout the day, using germ- and virus-eliminating solutions. This includes dental trays and chairs, countertops, shelves, desks, and waiting room items. At night after the last patient leaves, we do another thorough cleaning of the full facility to start fresh for the next workday.
Tools And Equipment
All dental tools and dental equipment, as well as machinery, are thoroughly sterilized between patients, and any items which can be disposed of are used once and discarded after use with one patient.
To fully sterilize everything, we utilize various equipment and chemical solutions, killing off virus droplets as well as other harmful bacteria. We use dental sterilization machines, cold sterilization, dental steam sterilizers, and so on.
In addition to the utilization of the laser to increase efficiency and safety for dental procedures, we are also using the Isolite evacuation system, which decreases aerosols by 90%.
Social Distancing
We intend to keep the office and lobby as empty as possible at any given time, staggering appointment times and asking patients to come to their appointments alone, unless otherwise required. Please wear a protective mask to the office.
If a patient is feeling unwell, we kindly ask them to stay home and reschedule their appointment for a future date. We will accommodate accordingly. The same goes for anyone on staff. Any signs of illness mean staying home. We will not risk the health of anyone else on staff or any patients’ health.
Our Protocol And Promise
Please note, we have always kept the Rhonda K Bowen DDS facilities well-sanitized and continually disinfected. However, as COVID-19 continues to affect us all, we are going above and beyond to maintain meticulous cleanliness for your safety and will continue to abide by the protocol set forth by the CDC and the ADA.
Feel free to contact our office with any pertinent questions, or to schedule an appointment. We are here to help and address your understandable anxiety. Please do not neglect your oral health due to fear. We’re happy to elaborate on how we are making your visit as safe as possible.
We urge you to stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Your well-being is so important to us.