The Right Way to Clean a Dental Practice During COVID-19

Dental practices have always been some of the cleanest environments in the country thanks to their strict sanitation and infection control protocols. However, maintaining a safe and germ-free dental practice isn’t as simple as spraying a store-bought disinfectant around the office, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. There are a number of extra steps your dentist takes in a specific order to thoroughly eliminate the possibility of infection. Here’s how your Mesquite dentist is keeping their practice clean to keep you as safe as possible when getting dental care during COVID-19.

Cleaning or Replacing PPE Frequently

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to protect the wearer’s mouth, nose, and eyes from potentially infectious particles. You’ve probably seen your dentist and their team wear PPE like gloves, masks, eyewear, and coats many times before. Disposable items like gloves and masks are thrown out directly after a patient’s treatment to prevent the spread of germs. Reusable equipment like face shields and eye wear are cleaned thoroughly with soap and water between patients to eliminate any lingering particles. A dental professional’s scrubs are not considered PPE, but they are washed at the end of every day to prevent the spread of infectious particles.

Sterilizing Dental Instruments

It takes much more than soap and water to sterilize dental instruments. Some devices like needles and suction tube tips are single use and thrown out directly after coming in contact with a patient. Reusable equipment like handpieces (drills) and other dental instruments are disinfected between patients with specific sterilization procedures that are outlined by the CDC and the ADA. This might include using high heat, steam under pressure, or a chemical vapor to completely sterilize these instruments between uses.

Disinfecting Environments Thoroughly

Before you even enter the examination room, every surface has been disinfected. To sterilize objects that can’t be moved, like the dental chair, drawer handles, and counter tops, a two-step process is applied. First, the item is cleaned with soap and water to remove as many particles as possible. Then, a hospital-strength disinfectant is used to kill off any lingering bacteria. It’s essential that these surfaces are cleaned before they are disinfected to ensure that no microorganisms are being shielded by debris. Outside of the examination room, frequently touched surfaces like the front counter, doorknobs, magazines, toys, and chairs are also cleaned and disinfected regularly.

While you may not see it during your appointment, your dental team is working tirelessly to keep the entire practice safe. If you need to go in for dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can feel confident that you’re walking into an exceptionally clean and germ-free environment.

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry in Mesquite, TX, your health and the health of your family have always been our top priorities. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, our dental practices have maintained excellent infection control and dental safety protocols. In these uncertain times, we have added even more steps to our sanitation processes to safeguard your health and safety should you need to come in for treatment. To learn more about what we’re doing to keep you safe during COVID-19, feel free to reach us via our website or at (972) 331-5300.