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COVID-19 Best Practices
Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends. |
What is our commitment to your safety?
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it's both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up to date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies' recommendations.
What guidance are you using to make these practice changes and decisions?
These are procedures we have implemented are based on recommendations from the CDC, ADA and VDA.
What are some changes I may see at my next appointment?
We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff.
- Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You'll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
- We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. As always, you will continue to find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
- You will see that our waiting room no longer offers magazines, since they are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
What is the new check-in process?
We have temporarily changed our check in process, when you arrive at the office please call from your car to let us know you have arrived. Remain in your car until a staff member calls you back. They will meet you at the side entrance. Your temperature will be taken before you enter the building. At this time, we are only allowing you, the patient, in the building. Other family members must wait for you in the car.
What screening questions will I be asked?
- Do you/they have a fever or have you/they felt hot or feverish recently (14-21 days)?
- Are you/they having shortness of breath or other difficulties breathing?
- Do you/they have a cough?
- Any other flu-like symptoms, such as a gastrointestinal upset, headache or fatigue?
- Have you/they experienced recent loss of taste or smell?
- Are you/they in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients?
- Is your/their age over 60?
- Do you /they have heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes or any auto-immune disorders?
- Have you/they traveled in the past 14 days?
Will someone be allowed to accompany an elder patient or child for his or her appointment?
Children and elderly patients will be allowed one person in the room to have consents signed, they will not be allowed in the operatory during treatment. This policy is in place out of an abundance of concern for your health, as well as that of the other patients being seen in our office, our doctor and staff, and our communities.
What are some ways that the office is being sanitized and being cleaned between patients?
- As always, we continue to sanitize all surfaces in the treatment room including the floors following treatment of each patient, using hospital grade disinfectant.
- Light handles, computer equipment, and dental chairs are wrapped in plastic and changed during between each appointment.
- All instruments are scrubbed, placed in an ultrasonic with cleaning solution then placed in an autoclave to be sterilized following each use.
How is our staff sanitizing and prepping between appointments?
Brown Dental has always gone above and beyond in sterilizing, below are extra steps and upgrades we have put in place to help ensure the safety of our patients and team.
- We have installed UV lights and new 4" HEPA filters in all of the air return units. In addition, each treatment room is equipped with an air purifier and UV light.
- Isodry evacuation systems are being used when you have your teeth cleaned to help cut down on aerosol.
- We continue to wear gloves, masks, and lab jackets during treatment. We have added surgical caps and face shields to our required personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE is changed after each patient. Staff laundry is done on site and lab jackets are changed after each patient.
- When patients arrive at the office, they are asked to remain in their car until doctor/assistant/hygienist is ready for them. We will call them to meet staff at the side entrance. At that time, we will take their temperature before entering the building.
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