Your dentist’s top priority has always been to keep you safe while taking care of you. COVID-19 has forced dental professionals to create and implement new strategies and tools into their work to continue meeting this goal. One of the most critical classes of tools is known as personal protective equipment. Read on to find about four specific items from this category that are currently in use at your emergency dentist in Allen.
1. More Masks
The primary way COVID-19 spreads is through the air in droplets that come from your nose and mouth. Surgical masks cover these areas and reduce the number of droplets released into the air. The N95 masks you’ve heard about during the pandemic are simply a more effective type of mask. You will find both kinds in use at your local dentist’s office.
2. Face Shields
While they may look like something out of a sci-fi movie, these large plastic shields help keep you and your dentist safe. Many dental procedures release droplets of water into the air that contain germs. Even if a dentist is wearing a mask, these particles can still land on exposed areas of their face. If they accidentally touch their face and then their mouth, the germs can enter their body. A removable face shield acts a physical barrier between your dentist and these pathogens.
3. Disposable Coats
While the virus primarily spreads through the air, it can survive on surfaces. That is why it is important for dental team members to keep their hands and scrubs clean. In addition to regular handwashing and sterilization procedures, dentists are adding disposable full body gowns to their arsenals. They are removed and thrown away at the end of each appointment, preventing germs released during treatment from lingering on their clothes and spreading to surfaces that people can touch.
4. Shoe Coverings
Footwear protects your feet from coming in contact with filthy surfaces. But the germs on them can still collect on the outer surfaces of your shoes. Dentists are now wrapping their shoes in small plastic coverings to prevent the spread of viral particles from treatment room floors to areas outside the office.
Protective equipment is just one of the many items your dentist is using to keep patients safe from the coronavirus. When you come in for your next appointment, you can relax knowing that you are being treated in an environment that takes the health of your mouth and your entire body seriously.
About the Author
Dr. Christina Blacher earned her dental degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Her focus as a dentist has always been to provide patients with care that improves their lives. Through memberships with the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry, she stays up to date on the latest advancements in dental safety procedures. If you would like to schedule an appointment with her, you can do so through her website or at 214-383-5511.
