UPDATE

iDental is excited to announce that our office has reopened for all treatments and procedures. Not only are we thrilled to reopen, we’re also proud to announce that we’re expanding our options for patients and starting up with additional infection prevention protocols in place.

Safety and Sanitation Protocols

Most importantly, as shelter in place regulations begin to lift across the country and we re-enter a post-COVID-19 world, our patients’ and staff members’ health and safety continue to be top of mind. To ease any concerns you may have, we’d like to be transparent about sanitation standards in the healthcare space. Our practice has always adhered to infection prevention protocols set by OSHA, the ADA, and the CDC. These standards include:

Regular hand washing:

Before and after treating a patient
Before putting on gloves and immediately after removing them
After touching any potentially contaminated surfaces or equipment
Using soap and water for visibly soiled hands instead of alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Use of personal protective equipment:

Wearing gloves, masks and eyewear while treating patients
Using new gloves for treatment of every patient
Removing personal protective equipment before leaving the work area

Using proper respiratory and cough etiquette:

Covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing
Coughing or sneezing into the elbow
Using and disposing of tissues
Sanitizing hands after exposure to respiratory secretions

Use of sterile instruments and devices:

Disinfecting and sterilizing reusable dental equipment before use on another patient
Keeping manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions readily available for trained team members
Wearing appropriate PPE when handling and reprocessing equipment
Using monitors to ensure effectiveness of sterilization
Maintaining sterilization records in accordance with state and local regulations

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces throughout the operatories and office:

Establishing policies and procedures for routine cleaning and disinfection of surfaces
Using barriers for hard-to-clean surfaces
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are not barrier-protected
Using EPA-registered disinfectants or detergents that are suitable for health care settings

If you or anyone in your household has had the following symptoms within the last 14-21 days, please call our office at (704) 632-9922 prior to scheduling your next appointment:

Fever or chills
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Cough or sore throat
Flu-like symptoms, such as gastrointestinal upset, muscle pain, headache  or fatigue
New loss of taste or smell

In addition to adhering to these standards, we will also take measures to ensure social distancing regulations can be respected in our practice so that all patients feel comfortable receiving care.