Whether you’ve developed a cavity from snacking or chipped a tooth from chewing anxiously on your fingernails, there are plenty of reasons why you may be searching for a “dentist near me” after weeks in quarantine. However, your next dental appointment will look very different than any you’ve had before. A variety of extra infection control protocols have been put in place to keep you as safe as possible from COVID-19. Read on as your Columbia dentist answers all your questions about the new precautions you’ll notice at your next dental visit.
Why Do I Check in For My Appointment from My Car?
Even as the country begins to reopen, social distancing is the best way to protect yourself from the coronavirus. That’s why when you arrive to the office for your appointment, you’ll be asked to check in from your car. This “virtual waiting room” limits the number of people in the practice at one time, and leaves plenty of physical space for coming and going between patients.
Why Do I Have to Wear a Mask to My Appointment?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone wear a mask or face covering while out in public. Studies show that many cases of COVID-19 present no or very few symptoms. Covering your face and nose is the best way to prevent spreading germs in case you are sick without knowing it.
Why Can’t I Bring My Own Gloves Inside?
Gloves keep any infected particles from settling on the wearer’s hands. However, those germs can be spread to whatever the contaminated gloves touch. To prevent any outside germs from getting into the practice, patients are asked to throw out their gloves before entering.
Why Are They Taking My Temperature at the Office?
Anyone who enters the dental practice will be asked to answer a quick health questionnaire and undergo an infrared temperature check. Even if you don’t feel sick, your body may be fighting off a contagious infection. If you exhibit signs of a slight fever, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.
Why Is My Dentist Asking Me to Use an Antimicrobial Mouthwash?
Before your dental treatment begins, your dentist will ask you to rinse your mouth out with an antimicrobial mouthwash. It’s designed to eliminate any dangerous particles like fungi, parasites, and viruses. Although it hasn’t been tested against COVID-19, reducing the bacteria in your mouth is an extra layer of protection.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed what your normal dental appointments look like, but it hasn’t changed your dentist’s commitment to your safety. These additional steps may seem silly or over-the-top at first, but they play a key role in keeping you, your family, and the entire practice healthy.
About the Practice
At Beck Dental Care, nothing is more important than the wellbeing of our patients, staff, and the community of Columbia, TN. Our highly experienced dental team has been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic carefully and adjusting their safety measures accordingly. Alongside meeting the ambitious sanitation standards set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they have added 25 additional steps to their infection control protocols. If you’d like to learn more about their Commitment to Safety, they can be reached via their website or at (931) 388-8452.