Franklin 
Your dental team’s number one priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is to keep you safe while giving you the high-quality care you need. They always adhere to strict guidelines from the CDC and are taking even greater caution to protect patients from the virus. These safety practices begin before patients even set foot in the door. Learn 4 ways that your dentist in Tyler is working hard to ensure the well-being of their patients.
1.) High-Quality PPE
The use of PPE (personal protective equipment) is a staple of the dental field. Your dentist, hygienist, and assistant always use masks and gloves to make sure that your treatment is completely sterile. During the pandemic, they are using even more forms of protection. When you come in for your appointment, you will notice the dental team wearing face shields, surgical gowns, and shoe coverings. They will be covered from head to toe to negate the possibility of virus transmission.
2.) Regular Health Checks
Before the practice opens each day, every team member receives a health screening consisting of a no-touch temperature check and a questionnaire to determine the chances that they have been exposed to COVID-19. Patients will receive this same test before their appointment. This simple step helps to protect both patients and the dental team from any accidental disease transmission.
3.) Designating an ICC
An ICC (Infection Control Coordinator) is responsible for making sure that the practice’s safety and sterilization standards are being rigorously followed. They monitor the practice throughout the day and make sure that no tasks are missed and that no corners are being cut. Their presence lets patients know that the practice is taking its commitment to safety very seriously.
4.) Safer Scrubs
Prior to the pandemic, some dental professionals would wear their scrubs out in public after work. This is no longer an option. Each member of the dental team now changes into and out of their freshly cleaned scrubs at the office each day. This negates the risk of outside contamination and creates an even more sterile environment.
Your dentist wants to go the extra mile for you. These four steps, in addition to updated safety standards throughout the office, show just how important it is to them to keep you healthy. The next time you schedule a dental appointment, you can be sure that you are in good hands.
About the Author
Dr. Donna Franklin-Pitts loves to use her dentistry to help patients live their best lives. Since graduating from dental school at Howard University, she has invested heavily in continuing her education to be able to stay at the forefront of the dental field. She is a member of such prestigious dental organizations as the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the East Texas Dental Society. If you are interested in learning more about what she and her team at Franklin Dental Center are doing to keep patients safe during the pandemic, they would love to speak with you. Give the office a call at (903) 730-6314 or send them an email.