Have you been hesitant to go to the dentist during the coronavirus pandemic? Many people rescheduled or canceled their appointments when COVID-19 first arrived, out of fear that the virus could be spread through dental offices. But as the pandemic continues people are going too long without dental care, which could lead to an increase in dental problems like cavities and gum disease.
Creekview Dental wants to reassure you that it is safe to come into our office. We encourage you to keep your regular appointments for cleanings and exams and schedule an appointment if it’s been more than 6 months since your last visit. Rest assured that we are doing everything possible to keep our patients safe during coronavirus.
Operating Within State Mandated Guidelines
The governor of Minnesota mandates that dental offices follow an “Implementation Plan for Management and Treatment of Non-Emergent and Elective Dental Care”. Extra safety protocols have been put in place to ensure our office is as safe as possible.
Safety Protocols for Dental Team
We are devoted to safe operation, so we have implemented specific safety protocols for our dental team. Appropriate social distancing must be followed at all times when inside the office. Our dental team must properly wear PPE (personal protective equipment) consisting of masks, face shields, gowns, and gloves. Staff are screened for coronavirus symptoms and temperatures are checked before beginning work each day.
Safety Protocols for Patients
Patients must wear masks until the moment dental treatment begins and immediately afterwards. Patients are required to complete a pre-appointment screening form before arriving and answer the same questions after arriving at our office. Patients must also have their temperature taken upon arrival at our office.
We schedule appointments to allow for plenty of social distancing. When you arrive in the parking lot, please call our office and we will let you know when it is safe to enter. We ask that you use the hand sanitizer we provide upon entering our office.
Once you are taken back to a room, you will be required to do a preprocedural mouth rinse of hydrogen peroxide to prepare for your cleaning or procedure. This helps to disinfect your mouth to protect the dental team in the case of an asymptomatic situation.
Adaptations To Our Office
We have installed plexiglass partitions at our reception counter and in our conference room. HEPA filters are placed in our operatories to remove particles and pathogens from the air as it circulates. The magazines, children’s toys, coffee maker, and similar items have been removed from the waiting area. We frequently sanitize surfaces and commonly touched areas throughout the day.
Standard Safety Protocols Are Still in Place
Regular guidelines that have been used in our office for years before the pandemic are still in place now. All dental tools are thoroughly sanitized. Our exam rooms are cleaned and disinfected. Dentists and team members providing dental care wear masks and face shields while administering dental treatment. Dental offices, like other medical facilities, were already some of the safest and most sanitary places before additional coronavirus protocols were put into place.
Creekview Dental Wants to Encourage You to Keep Seeing Us Regularly
The risk of contracting coronavirus at the dentist is extremely low. You are more likely to be exposed at the grocery store than in our office. We have added extra safety measures to our already clean and sanitized office to ensure our patients’ health.
The bigger risk is the dental and health problems than can occur from lack of regular preventative dental care. Buildup of tartar and plaque on the teeth can not only lead to cavities, but can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It can also lead to gum disease which has a direct correlation to diabetes. We urge you to avoid skipping dental appointments out of fear. Allowing your dental care to lapse makes you less likely to resume routine maintenance once the pandemic ends.
Call (651) 738-8204 or contact us today to schedule an appointment. Feel free to ask questions about our procedures to help you feel more comfortable. We look forward to helping you maintain or resume your regularly scheduled dental care in the safest way possible.
