- Teledentistry – use whenever possible
- PPE
- Clinical staff will wear N95 masks with a Level 3 mask over (depending on procedure)
- Clinical staff will wear a face shield over their masks (depending on procedure)
- Other basic PPE utilized: protective eye wear, gloves, smocks with long sleeves that fit snugly at the wrist, disposable gowns (depending on procedure)
- Infection Control
- Face shields, protective eye wear, and loupes are cleaned and sanitized between patients
- All non-essential items removed from operatory counters
- ADS Extraoral Dental Suction System for each clinician (on order)
- Use of rubber dam
- Use HVE and supplemental suction
- BBP infection control protocols
- Transmittal disease infection protocols: providers will utilize two operatories if performing aerosol producing procedures to allow rooms to “sit” and switch back and forth
- Smocks are changed out between aerosol producing procedures.
- Pre-procedure covid19 testing required on patients receiving aerosol producing procedures (limited exceptions by doctor approval)
- Environmental
- Lobby area cleared of seating, toys, magazines
- Front door locked to walk-in patients
- Floor stickers marking off 6 ft and “wait here”
- Enhanced Staff Protocols
- Staff Training conducted on enhanced infection control, PPE, aerosol transmittable diseases, and OSHA/CDC/ADA recommendations on COVID19 (4/23/20)
- Staff wash hands immediately upon entering clinic
- Temperature taken and recorded
- All staff wear a minimum of Level 3 masks
- Work shoes stay at the office
- Smocks laundered on sanitizing mode
- Work area and any touched surfaces are wiped down at the start and end of the day
- Cleaning staff at night also perform enhanced cleaning of the clinic wearing proper PPE (gloves/mask)
- Enhanced Patient Protocols
- Telephone pre-screening
- Staggered Appointment Times – one patient in lobby at a time or enhanced social distancing (more than 10 feet)
- Extended appointment times to allow for enhanced infection control
- Patient waits in car until called to come in to the office
- Patient greeted at the door by clinical staff wearing PPE (mask/gloves/gown)
- Patient wears mask
- Patient washes hands or uses medical grade hand sanitizer
- Temperature taken
- In-office screening
- Patient reviews/signs consent form
- Before treatment patient rinses with hydrogen peroxide (1.5%)
- Patient always escorted by staff to ensure surfaces touched are wiped down after each patient leaves the building.
- Billing is encouraged to be handled prior to appointment, otherwise, social distancing is practiced.
- Updated forms are encouraged to be completed online, otherwise, social distancing is practiced.
- Effort made to postpone non-emergent procedures on elderly and medically compromised patients, if possible
- Covid19 testing completed pre-procedure to any aerosol producing treatment.
- Appointment scheduling considerations: travel testing mandates, dental treatment mandates, guidelines from the CDC, ADA, and OSHA
