STERILIZATION AND INFECTION CONTROL IN OUR OFFICE
Our staff has always attended periodic courses on “Sterilization & Infection Control” to maintain their certifications/licenses and
we have all been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
And we have always followed these strict OSHA guidelines
that include but are not limited to the following:
- All clinical staff thoroughly washes their hands, must always wear gloves, an N95 and/or surgical mask, and may wear goggles or a face shield with a lab coat or surgical paper gown when treating patients.
- All dental instruments are sterilized for each patient.
- All surfaces touched by patients are wiped with disinfectant, and protective barriers are placed that are disposed of between patients including gloves/masks.
- Clinical staff may use the Isolite Suction HVE System to nearly eliminate aerosols during some restorative treatment. https://www.zyris.com/
- All common areas are wiped down and cleaned with the most stringent disinfectants.
Here’s what we’ve added:
- All staff have been vaccinated for COVID 19.
- All patients and staff must answer a series of health questions within 24 hours of being on-site. If any symptoms are present or they have been associated with a COVID positive person within the last two weeks, they're asked to reschedule/stay home.
- All patients and staff temperatures are checked upon entry.
- All patients and staff must wear a face mask on premises at all times (except patients during treatment of course).
- Hygienists now use the ReLeaf HVE Suction System to nearly eliminate aerosols during cleanings. https://releafdental.com/
- All clinical staff must wear a lab coat or paper gown, and may wear hair bonnets and shoe booties during treatment.
- Patients are given an antiseptic rinse to use at the start of treatment.
- All treatments rooms are kept well ventilated by either leaving the patio doors open or running the HVAC fan bringing in filtered air from the outside.
- More hand sanitizer stations were added.
Since the ordinance on covid was lifted, we no longer...
- Ask visitors to stay outside.
- Have plexi-glass sneeze guards at the front desk.
- Require back-office staff to wear goggles or a face shield while in treatment rooms.