For your dentist, infection control is a pillar of their office and culture. Even before COVID-19, dental offices practiced extensive handwashing, wore personal protective equipment, and followed all guidelines regarding cross-contamination. However, the recent pandemic has put infection control at the top of everyone’s mind, so dentists across the U.S. are implementing extensive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Here are three ways your dentist is keeping their hands germ-free at your next visit:
Gloves Galore
Did you know that gloves can reduce hand contamination by 70% to 80% according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)? In addition to thorough and frequent handwashing, your dentist and their team are using multiple gloves throughout the day to keep their hands clean and their patients safe.
Added Personal Hygiene Standards
Since the start of this pandemic, extensive handwashing has played a crucial role in fighting the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus. While your dentist and their staff have undergone a significant amount of training regarding infection control, they are implementing the below additional personal hygiene standards to ensure their hands are germ-free:
- No long nails – Whether real or fake, long nails allow for bacteria to be easily picked up throughout the day. To prevent this from happening, the American College for Medical Careers (ACMC) and the CDC suggest that nails don’t exceed a quarter inch in length and that fake ones are avoided altogether.
- No non-essential jewelry – Although beautiful, watches, bracelets, and rings can trap and collect bacteria. Therefore, new personal hygiene standard guidelines ask dentists and their teams to remove all non-essential jewelry at the office.
- Glasses over contacts – In addition to frequent handwashing, one message the CDC has stood by is the importance of not touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Since contacts increase the likelihood of users touching their eyes (while putting them on or when they get irritated), the CDC recommends opting for glasses over contacts in this pandemic.
Extensive Sanitation Measures
Prevention is key. To ensure that their office is as close to a germ-free environment as possible, dentists are enacting extensive sanitation measures. At your next appointment, you can expect:
- Cleanings between each patient.
- Deep cleanings every evening.
- Hand sanitizing stations throughout the practice.
- Proper, frequent handwashing from the entire staff.
- No communal activities, like magazines and toy chests (which can spread germs).
In light of the current pandemic, it is more important now than ever that we all do our part in reducing the spread of viruses. With these three measures, your dentist is ensuring that infection control and your safety remain a top priority throughout your visit.
Dentistry at Hickory Flat
With their world-class customer care and family-focused dental services, Dr. Sean Van Tuyl, Dr. Katherine Lee, and Dr. Brian Lee help patients in Canton achieve excellent oral health. At their office, you can expect high-quality dentistry and a five-star experience (that includes massage chairs and complimentary Wi-Fi!). To speak with the team about the dental safety measures they are following during COVID-19, visit their website or give them a call at 770-213-8166.