Covid-19 Practice Updates
- Posted on: May 4 2020
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During this time your dental team at Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry has been working hard to keep you safe. As we wait to see when the Summit County Health Department allows us to resume non-emergency care, (more direction is expected on Monday April 27th,) we are making tentative plans to resume some patient care on May 4th.
We want you to know what we have done for YOUR PROTECTION.
We’ve implemented Covid-19 specific patient screening questionnaires, mandatory hand washing and temperature taking of all patients and guests upon arrival, limited people allowed in our reception area and treatment rooms (meaning you may be asked to wait in your car,) and are frequently disinfecting public spaces.
We’ve made a lot of positive changes to our safety protocols for patient care, including increasing the level of PPE that our team is using, but perhaps the most important strategy is how we handle aerosols at the source.
As you know, Covid-19 and other viral agents can be transmitted through microscopic air born particles. Control of these aerosols during the procedures that produce them has been well studied in dental literature for many decades. Use of rubber dams with proper high volume suction, as we routinely use ☺, has been shown to eliminate 95% of aerosols. Use of tools like Isolite and VacuLUX which connect to high volume suction lines reduces aerosols by 90% in studies. We will be incorporating these tools whenever a rubber dam isn’t possible. In addition we installed a second high volume suction line in each treatment room to use with the Isolite or VacuLUX to raise aerosol control at the source above 90%.
Some aerosols containing potentially harmful viruses or other particles will still escape the immediate area surrounding your mouth. Because of this we have installed NASA developed Airocide air purification systems in our treatment areas. Aerocide is no ordinary air filter and it’s effectiveness is not limited by particle size like HEPA filters. It destroys 99.999% of harmful particles on the first pass of air, including small particle viruses.
Our top priority is always your health, safety, and well-being. The choices we make to keep you safe are research-based and with your best interests at heart.
Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns about the safety of having an appointment at our office. A member of our team will be happy to help.
If you have a scheduled appointment, and you do not receive any notice of change, then this means Summit County Health Department has allowed reopening of dental offices and we are moving forward as planned. Otherwise you will hear from us next week to reschedule. If you have postponed an appointment and have not yet been contacted by us to reschedule please call or text.
We wish you and your loved ones health and safety!
Dr. Paul Peterson and Team
Posted in: Dental News
