TEAM TRAINING

Our team has taken this time to review the infection control measures our dental office has always adhered to, along with new ones specific to COVID-19. Beyond office cleanliness, we begin each day by screening ourselves for symptoms, taking temperatures and holding ourselves to the same safety standards we ask of our patients.

We’ve also taken this time to examine and revise our behaviors at home and as we go about our daily lives. Following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines will help us keep our families, communities and work environments safe.

PATIENT SCREENING AND ARRIVAL

Before your appointment, if you have opted for electronic correspondence, we will send a COVID Screening form to your email or as an SMS for you to complete prior to your arrival at the clinic.

If you have opted out of receiving electronic correspondence, then we ask that you call the clinic at (905) 579-5464 prior to entering in order for us to screen you verbally. After entering the office, please proceed to the front desk to have your temperature taken before being seated in the waiting area.

Please note: We have limited capacity in all of our waiting areas and therefore ask that only the patient being treated enter the building (with the exception of a child being accompanied by their parent/legal guardian or a patient that requires accessibility assistance).

In the treatment room, you will be asked to rinse with IORINSE, a professional dental irrigating solution, which is proven to be a very effective and safe oral antiseptic.

INFECTION CONTROL BARRIERS AND PPE

Our office has N95 masks, face shields, surgical caps and gowns, touchless infrared thermometers and hand sanitizer dispensers. Reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) is changed and sterilized between each patient and all garments are removed and washed before reuse. Difficult-to-clean items and clutter have been removed from the office and treatment rooms. This allows for effective and efficient cleaning and disinfecting between patients.

FOGGING, FILTRATION, AND UV LIGHT STERILIZATION

Fogging with electrolyzed water has been proven to be more effective and safer than bleach and peroxide products in broad spectrum room disinfection. It has been safely used for years in the food, hotel and airline industries, as well as in hospital settings. It will now likely be commonplace in the dental setting as well. We have also taken robust air filtration measures, including adding high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that will scrub our air of larger particles and PiCO air purifiers which sterilize and inactivate viruses, bacteria, mold spores and more. Treatment rooms and common areas have both filters present for maximum effectiveness. Between seeing patients and after closing, we will be using ultraviolet (UV) light, specifically UV-C, which has been shown to be effective against viruses. This is commonly used in hospital settings for broad spectrum sterilization of rooms.

MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCE WITHIN THE CLINIC

We will see one patient at a time and appointments will be spaced out to allow us time to clean rooms and change into new garments and PPE. Higher-risk patients (60+, cardiovascular disease, immune-compromised, etc.) will be seen in the mornings, before we have seen multiple patients. Any aerosol-producing procedures will be scheduled for the last visit of the day. Additionally, we encourage payment and rescheduling conversations to occur over the phone to reduce the amount of time patients spend in the office.