Think about all the surfaces you touch with your hands in a single day. Now, think about how often you touch your face. It’s easy to see how germs can reach your mouth and infect you. While your body can protect you from most diseases, the threat of the coronavirus requires you to take additional steps to keep your hands clean. Your dentist in Hoover understands this and is doing their best to stop germs from reaching you when you come in for care. Read on to find out what steps dental teams are taking to keep their hands germ free.
Hand Sanitizing Stations
Handwashing has always been a major part of any dental office’s hygiene protocols. The addition of new hospital grade hand sanitizing stations will only increase the effectiveness of this practice. Both dental team members and patients will use it at the start and end of each appointment.
Stringent Personal Hygiene Standards
Dental team members are finding ways to keep viral particles from accumulating on parts of their bodies so they don’t accidentally transfer them to their hands. They are no longer wearing jewelry, watches, or any unnecessary personal items. Staff members are also keeping fingernails trimmed and wearing long hair in an upright fashion as an additional safety precaution.
Disposable Protective Clothing
Wearing gloves has always been standard while treating patients. Dental teams continue to use them along with coats and hats that can be thrown away at the end of each patient visit. This makes it harder to unknowingly spread germs between patients or to people outside of the office when team members leave at the end of the day.
Adding More Cleaning Times
Because viral particles can accumulate on surfaces, staff members are taking the time to disinfect treatment rooms after each appointment. Additionally, practices are continuing to follow CDC recommended guidelines for instrument sterilization.
Reducing Personal Contact
Dental team members have commonly used hugs or handshakes to greet patients when they arrive. However, since touch is an easy way to spread germs, this practice has been paused. Instead, they will be saying hello with no contact greetings like a wave or a smile.
The protocols in this article are just a fraction of the many new ones implemented by your local dentist in Hoover to protect you. If you’ve been thinking about improving your smile, now is as good a time as any to come in for your first appointment.
About the Author
Dr. Marc Moulton attended the University of Alabama Dental School and completed a residency with the Veterans Administration Hospital. He believes in building genuine relationships with his patients so he can truly understand their problems and provide them with the best care possible. His practice has added 18 new policies to protect patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re interested in receiving his assistance with a dental issue, you can reach him through his website or at 205-988-3360.