In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to reassure you of our continuing commitment to protecting your health while visiting Haid Dental.
We cherish the relationship of trust we have with our patients. A big part of that trust comes from knowing the rigorous steps we follow on a daily basis as part of our dental sterilization protocol.
After all, you should not have to worry about contracting viruses or other potentially harmful bacteria when visiting your family dentist. To ensure your safety, we follow the well-established guidelines and standards put forth by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
By following these precise sterilization guidelines and standards, we’re able to eliminate any chances of cross-contamination, and provide you with a clean, sterile dental environment that protects your overall health.
Steps We Take When Treating You
All team members -- including dentists, hygienists and assistants -- use personal protective equipment (PPE) when treating you. This includes face shields, a face mask or guard, and disposable gloves.
After each patient examination and treatment, team members take off their gloves, wash their hands using a medical-grade disinfectant hand soap, and put a fresh pair of gloves on. Each step (remove old gloves, wash hands thoroughly, put new gloves on) is repeated each time a team member touches an object. The use of fresh gloves is a crucial part of the process as it slashes the chances of contamination by as much as 80 percent.
Because we’re not willing to risk exposing you to any potential illnesses, our team members are strongly encouraged to stay home if they’re not feeling well. Likewise, if you’re feeling under the weather on the day of your appointment, we prefer you stay home as well until you’re feeling better. We’ll be happy to reschedule your appointment.
Germ-Free, Spotless Surfaces
We take the concept of “clean” to an entirely different level - the microscopic level. Eliminating microorganisms is an essential part of our efforts to protecting your health while you’re with us.
Throughout each day, every surface area in our office is aggressively disinfected.This includes countertops, trays, office door knobs, examination light handles, etc. Each of our examination rooms is thoroughly disinfected after each patient visit.
Beyond our thorough daily office cleaning, we also perform a weekly deep cleaning.
Dental Instrument Sterilization
We use a dental autoclave and chemical-based solutions to sterilize our dental instruments and tools. The steam from the autoclave is highly effective at eliminating all types of viruses, bacteria, and spores from the instruments. It does this by heating the equipment and tools far beyond the boiling point. Once the instruments are properly cleaned, they’re then placed in a sealed bag and securely stored until ready for use.
Any tools that are intended to be used only one time remain in their factory-sealed packaging until they’re ready to be used. Afterward, they’re promptly disposed of.
Staying Vigilant
The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely brought the importance of cleanliness and sterilization to the forefront. We’ll continue to do our part by following guidelines from the ADA and CDC, and adjust our protocol as needed. We’re firm believers in the fact that the best defense against infectious disease is information.
These sound dental sterilization procedures are an essential part of protecting you, our other patients, and our entire team.
If you have questions about your upcoming dental visit at Haid Dental, or need to reschedule, please reach out to us.
