How the Best Dental Practices Protect You From the Coronavirus
Now more than ever, it’s important to take the necessary steps to stay healthy. From washing your hands properly to social distancing, there are many ways to avoid getting the coronavirus. One critical way you can promote your overall health is by maintaining your oral health. And that’s why the team at Advanced Dental Arts is going above and beyond to keep our dental offices sterile, so you can get the dental treatment you need in a clean and safe environment.
The Risk of Contracting Coronavirus at the Dentist
Dentistry tops the list for professions facing the highest risk of contracting COVID-19. Specifically, dental hygienists and dentists are the workers who are the most at risk to contract the coronavirus. The reason is that teeth cleanings present a potentially dangerous situation.
When a hygienist or dentist does a cleaning using a cavitron (the ultrasonic cleaner your local dentist uses to clean your teeth), it creates aerosols. Aerosols are tiny droplets in the air that remain airborne for 4 hours or more. And because COVID-19 is an airborne virus, this can make your local dentist offices a potentially high-risk environment.
The Need for Dentistry During COVID-19
Poor oral hygiene can lead to medical conditions that put your health at risk. While there’s no current research showing that poor dental hygiene is a link to serious complications from COVID, it’s best to proactively do everything you can to stay healthy.
There are also unpredictable events that require emergency dentistry. Broken or chipped teeth, toothaches, loose or missing teeth, and many other unpleasant conditions require immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage and restore your overall health.
That puts patients in a bind. They’re afraid of going to the dentist because there is the risk of contracting COVID-19. As a result, many feel forced to choose between their protecting their overall health and their oral health.
But that doesn’t have to be the case…
5 Ways Your Local Dentist Can Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
Thankfully, the coronavirus has had dentists rethinking how to keep their patients protected so they can receive the treatment they need to safeguard their health. And it turns out there are SEVERAL different strategies your local dentist can take to reduce your risk during your next dental appointment.
At Advanced Dental Arts, we’re taking these extra precautions to protect your health and minimize your potential exposure to COVID-19. And if you don’t live in Greenwich village, feel free to ask your dentist if they’re using any of these methods to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in their offices.
1. Shockwave Disinfectant
We now use SHOCKWAVE disinfectant for cleaning the office. It’s registered on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) as one of the disinfectants for use in fighting the new coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, it provides emerging pathogen hospital-grade efficacy and virucidal protection. That means that the disinfectant works to deactivate or destroy viruses or pathogens.
And it’s very effective. Hospitals use this disinfectant to kill 99.99% of germs. At Advanced Dental Arts, we use SHOCKWAVE before and after each patient visit, thoroughly sanitizing all surfaces. That helps reduce the risk that the virus will spread from someone touching exposed surfaces.
2. HEPA Air Filtration
Air purification devices, like HEPA filters, can help reduce the spread of harmful airborne bacteria and viruses when used correctly. At Advanced Dental Arts, we use HEPA air filtration in every room along with the waiting room.
Even though there’s no direct evidence illustrating that HEPAs reduce the spread of coronavirus, we can make educated comparisons about what we know of other viruses. By using HEPA filters throughout the Advanced Dental Arts office, we’re taking another step to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.
3. Laser Cleaning
Traditional teeth cleanings may be a thing of the past. As mentioned earlier, cavitrons use ultrasonic waves that aerosolizing viruses and bacteria. To combat this, Advanced Dental Arts now uses lasers during teeth cleanings.
The LANAP laser is extremely effective in destroys viruses such as COVID on contact instead of creating aerosols. The BIOLASE laser is also versatile and effective for dental cleanings and advanced dental procedures. That’s why it’s a great alternative to traditional surgery as a treatment for advanced gum disease.
4. Aerosol Suction
Aerosol Suction helps provide a safe environment for doctors and patients by rapidly absorbing aerosols from the air using super-strong suction. Your local dentist will use aerosol suction during your dental procedure to help reduce the risks of aerosol contaminates spreading during dental procedures. Basically, it works like a little vacuum, sweeping up little droplets and reducing the chance that contagions will spread.
5. PPE for All Staff
We want to make sure all of our staff stay safe while helping you with your dental concerns. That’s why you’ll see everyone at Advanced Dental arts wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). This provides an additional barrier of protection for everyone from our receptionists to our dental hygienists to our dentists, so we can continue to help serve the local Greenwich community.
Should You Visit a Dentist During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Choosing between your oral health and your overall health is something you should never have to worry about in Manhattan. And with the steps we’re taking, you can rest easy during your next visit to Advanced Dental Arts.
We’re a top-rated, New York City-based dental practice located near New York University. Our dynamic team of board-certified dental specialists provides the best dentistry in NYC. And if you’re worried about the cost of dental care, we’re an NYC dental practice that takes Cigna, Aetna, Delta, and other dental insurance.
Contact us and ask about what other steps we’re taking to keep our patients safe from COVID-19!
