5 Ways Dental Practices Stay Germ-Free During COVID-19

Dental practices have always been some of the cleanest places in the country thanks to their strict sanitation protocols. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, these standards have gotten even higher. Dentists across the nation are taking extraordinary precautions on top of their regular hygienic practices to ensure they can safely provide the dental care you may need after weeks in quarantine. Here are five ways your Mesquite dentist is keeping their office as clean as possible to safeguard your health if you need to come in for treatment.

1.) Excellent Hand Hygiene

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as well as mothers around the world, regular handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent spreading germs. Since dental work often requires very close proximity between a dentist’s hands and their patient’s mouth, hand hygiene has always been of utmost importance. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, your dentist was routinely washing their hands before putting on gloves, before treating each patient, after treating each patient, and immediately after removing their gloves.

2.) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

You’ve probably seen your dentist wearing gloves, masks, eyewear, and lab coats while treating you. These are all known as personal protective equipment, and are designed to protect the wearer’s mouth, nose, eyes, and skin from infectious particles. To prevent the spread of germs, these items are regularly disposed of or sanitized.

3.) Cough Etiquette & Respiratory Health

Several measures are taken to remind and teach patients to practice proper cough etiquette and respiratory health while in the office. You’ll notice easily accessible facial tissues, no-touch trash receptacles, and available hand sanitizer. There also may be signs, posters, or pamphlets with instructions to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.

4.) Sterilized Dental Instruments & Devices

To prevent cross-contamination, most dental devices are single-use and thrown away after coming in contact with a patient. To sterilize dental instruments that are non-disposable, dental staff have taken specialized training in using high-heat, powerful disinfectants, and other means to completely eliminate any lingering particles.

5.) Clean & Disinfected Environment

All parts of a dental office are regularly and rigorously disinfected. Before you step into the dentist’s examination room, every surface has been cleaned with hospital-strength disinfectant products. This includes the dental chair, countertops, dental light, and every switch, handle, and knob. Some surfaces may even have a protective cover that is replaced between every patient.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, your Mesquite dentist has practiced extensive measures for infection control. If you need to visit them for care, you can feel confident that you’re walking into a safe, clean, and germ-free environment.

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry has always been committed to keeping the smiles of Mesquite, TX and the surrounding communities happy and healthy for a lifetime. Our staff completes countless hours of continuing education and training to stay current with the most advanced dental technologies, materials, and practices. To provide our patients the excellent dental care they deserve, we are closely following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’d like to learn more about what we’re doing to slow the spread of COVID-19, feel free to contact us via our website or at (972) 331-5300.