Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, dental professionals have practiced rigorous infection control protocols to keep themselves and their patients healthy. At previous appointments, you’ve probably seen your dental team wear personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of germs. However, if you need to visit them during the pandemic, you’ll notice that they’ve enhanced their working wardrobe even more. Alongside other dental safety protocols, your New Bedford dentist wears these four items to protect their patients and themselves from COVID-19 while providing excellent dental care.
Disposable Gloves & Coats
Disposable gloves have always been an essential factor in providing safe dental care. Since infectious particles can’t pass through disposable gloves, it prevents both the wearer and the patient from spreading germs to each other. On the other hand, disposable coats prevent any infected particles from settling on the wearer’s skin or clothes. Both items are single-use and safely disposed of directly after dental care is administered to keep germs from being spread throughout the practice.
N95 and ASTM Level Three Masks
Like the common cold or the flu, COVID-19 is known to spread through infected respiratory droplets. While these particles are typically spread when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, they can also be dispersed via aerosols generated through routine dental treatments. To protect their nose and mouth, your dental team will be wearing N95 masks. Similar to disposable gloves, N95 masks prevent the spread of infected airborne particles both to and from the wearer. Although it’s a somewhat simple measure, diligently wearing a mask goes a long way in preventing the spread of germs.
Face Shields
COVID-19 can also be transmitted via body fluid. Since many dental procedures cause splashes or sprays of spittle, your dentist may wear a face shield as an added layer of protection. These clear plastic visors cover a majority of the face, effectively “shielding” the wearer from germs spread through body fluids. However, they don’t form a vacuum seal and therefore don’t provide adequate protection from airborne particles. Thankfully, they’re designed to be easily used in conjunction with other personal protective equipment like goggles and N95 masks.
The next time you visit your New Bedford dentist, they may look a little different than they did before the pandemic. However, you can rest assured that underneath these new layers of protection, they are smiling and taking every precaution to keep you and your smile healthy.
About the Practice
At Clear Coast Dental in New Bedford, MA, we have always practiced diligent infection control protocols to keep our patients healthy during their treatment. In these unusual times, we have raised our ambitious sanitation standards even higher and have added numerous extra precautions to safeguard our patients and staff from COVID-19. Alongside numerous other changes in the practice, you’ll notice that your dental team will be wearing several new pieces of personal protective equipment during your next dental appointment. If you’d like to learn more about what we’re doing to maintain a safe, germ-free environment in the COVID-19 pandemic, please feel free to reach us via our website or at (508) 997-1030.
