COVID-19 | Measures for Dental Office Safety

Clayton Dental Office is making every possible effort to create a safe dental experience for all patients and reserves the right to reschedule any patient at any time.

1. Training and Educating Our Team

• Infection control has always been a priority, CDC guidelines have been reviewed.
• Infection control has always been a priority, CDC guidelines have been reviewed.
• We have reviewed proper hand care and protocol
• All team members have been fitted, trained and practiced wearing proper PPE
• Any staff exhibiting Covid-19  symptoms are advised to stay home & be tested
• We will take and chart temperature at 10 am and 2 pm of all members of our team
• Anyone with an abnormal temperature will be sent home immediately
• We are maximizing social distancing amongst staff in the workplace
• We have developed and reviewed an arrival checklist for our team
• We have developed and reviewed a departure checklist for our team
• We have reviewed symptoms and risk factors of Covid-19
• We have trained clinical staff to complete admin. details in treatment rooms

2. Recommendations for Our Team

Prior to arrival:

• If experiencing any symptoms consistent with Covid-19. do not come to work
• If experiencing any symptoms consistent with Covid-19. do not come to work
• Please report the symptoms immediately
• Monitor temperature before coming to work.  Do not come to work with fever
• Remove jewelry and avoid accessories
• Tie hair up, keep nails short
• Commit to hand and and cellular phone hygiene

At Work:

• Socially distance as much as possible
• Socially distance as much as possible
• Change into scrubs and place all personal clothing and jackets in your locker
• Use issued PPE
• When entering break room be aware of social distancing
• When entering break room remove disposable PPE jacket
• Practice hand hygiene often
• Follow all infection control procedures
• Report any concerns for safety immediately
• Clinical staff and Administrative staff distancing

After Work:

• Wash hands
• Wash hands
• Remove and dispose of disposable PPE
• Remove scrubs and put them in the washing machine
• Sanitize your cellular phone
• Wash hands again

At Home:

• Avoid all contact with family upon arrival
• Avoid all contact with family upon arrival
• Shower immediately upon arrival
• Clothing that was worn home from office should be washed
• Monitor symptoms

3. Screening, Social Distancing and Arrival Protocol

Before Scheduling and Arrival

• Virtual Covid -19 screening via phone with patient following screening checklist
• Virtual Covid -19 screening via phone with patient following screening checklist
• Risk factors identified and scheduled appropriately
• Any patient with risk factors or symptoms will be rescheduled
• Instruct patients that develop symptoms to phone our office for rescheduling
• Instruct patients on arrival protocol
• Discuss and answer patient questions or concerns

To Promote Social Distancing

• Create scheduling templates for at risk patients
• Create scheduling templates for at risk patients
• Decrease density of scheduling
• If the patient is able to come alone we are requesting they do
• If patient is a minor, only one adult can accompany the minor
• All other are asked to stay home or stay in the car and will not be admitted
• Waiting room has been reformatted to support distancing

Arrival Protocol

• One point of entry which will be staffed
• One point of entry which will be staffed
• Patients will be checked in outside the office by a team member
• Patients will be asked to bring a mask and if they do not have one will be given one
• Patient (and guardian) will have temperature checked.
• A temperature of 100.2 degrees, or symptoms will result in rescheduling
• A temperature of 100.2 degrees, or symptoms will result in rescheduling
• Patient and guardian will be asked to use hand sanitizer
• Masks will be worn by patients  over the age of 2 in all common spaces
• Screening checklist will be completed
• Only the patient, or if minor patient, patient with 1 guardian will be admitted

4. Waiting Room, Front Desk Safety

Waiting room

• All admitted are directed to be seated socially distanced in waiting room
• For administrative visits, patient will be seated socially distanced in waiting room
• All entrants, for any reason, will stay in waiting room unless otherwise directed
• Waiting room surfaces, entry fixtures and bathroom will be cleaned every hour
• Any furniture that is not able to be disinfected has been removed
• All childrens toys, magazines and clutter has been removed
• Hand Sanitizer is available and encouraged
• Signage will remind patients of mask use, hand sanitizing and distancing
• Testing for the virus will be made available as it becomes available

Front Desk

• Physical barriers to improve social distancing during patient/admin interaction
• Physical barriers to improve social distancing during patient/admin interaction
• Physical barriers to improve social distancing during clincal/admin
• Administrative patient interactions have been reduced
• Administrative interactions will be directed and PPE used

5. Clinical Team Protocol

Hand Hygiene

• Before and after patient contact, and/or lab material contact
• Before and after patient contact, and/or lab material contact
• Hand washing stations are in every operatory, lab and sterilization area
• Hand sanitizer is in every room and may be used to supplement hand hygiene

PPE

• N-95 masks covered with Level 3 Masks (ADA recommended N95 protocol)
• N-95 masks covered with Level 3 Masks (ADA recommended N95 protocol)
• On-site laundered/sanitized scrub pants, shirt and jacket
• Disposable Head covering and Jacket

Eye Protection

• Reusable Eye protection should be cleaned using EPA approved cleaner
• Reusable Eye protection should be cleaned using EPA approved cleaner
• Face shield.  Face shield should be left in room when leaving room
• Face shield should be cleaned with EPA approved cleaner between patients

Gloves

• Clean gloves are worn at all times while in treatment room
• Clean gloves are worn at all times while in treatment room
• Staff should not leave treatment rooms with gloves on
• Hand hygiene immediately after glove removal

6. Patients in the Treatment Rooms

• All treating staff will use PPE
• All treating staff will use PPE
• Rooms will be disinfected prior to each patient is seated in treatment room
• Patient will be masked and with an escort at all times in office
• Upon seating patient:
  • Patient will rinse with antibacterial rinse
  • Patients will be provided with hand sanitizer
  • Patient will be re-screened for Covid-19 signs
  • Temperature repeated
• No administrative staff in treatment rooms
• No administrative staff in treatment rooms
• All Aerosol producing procedures will be completed with HVAC protocol
• All Aerosol producing procedures will be 4 handed procedures
  • Aerosol procedures include: High Speed, Cavitron

7. Protocol After Clinical treatment

• All administrative procedures will be done in the treatment room.
  • Included admin tasks such as:
    • Scheduling, Insurance query, Financial arrangements and Payment
• Patients will be masked, and escorted directly out of the building
• Patients will be masked, and escorted directly out of the building
• All disposables will be disposed of to manufacturers recommendations
• Equipment will be wrapped and sterilized in compliance with OSHA and CDC
• All surfaces will be disinfected using EPA registered hospital grade cleaners

8. Establish Screening Checklist

• Have you had any symptoms of Covid-19 or flu like symptoms?
  • Cough, Fever, Tiredness, Aches/Pains, Sore Throat, Shortness of breath, Loss of taste or smell
• Have you been tested for Covid-19? When and what were the results?
• Have you been tested for Covid-19? When and what were the results?
• Has anyone in your household or a person of close contact had symptoms?
• Has anyone you know tested positive? Were you in contact with them?
• Do you feel that you an at risk?
• Have you traveled greater than 100 miles from your home?

9. Establish Patient Arrival Checklist

• Patients or Minor/Guardian only will be allowed into office
• Patients or Minor/Guardian only will be allowed into office
• No extra visitors will be allowed in building
• Walk in or Administrative visits will be screened
• Patients are asked to wear a mask while approaching and inside building
• Patients are asked to maintain social distancing
• Temperature will be taken, = or >100.02 F  will be rescheduled
• Any patient or guardian with symptoms will be refused treatment and rescheduled