Our COVID-19 Safety Measures | Safe Dental Care by Smith Dentalworks

Hand Hygiene

Proper hand washing is essential to avoid transmission of contagions. This simple measure is incredibly effective to stop the spread of germs and all of our employees will continue to use recommended techniques for effective hygiene. Our office also has multiple hand sanitizer stations for employees and patients and we are adding more as we reopen.

Respiratory Hygiene

We have always practiced respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette as outlined by the CDC, but we are now doing so with new awareness.

Disinfection Procedures

Our dental office has always used hospital-level disinfectants that are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We have recently expanded the surfaces we clean and disinfect with these products to extend beyond operatory areas.

Equipment

We have always taken the utmost care when it comes to equipment sterilization. When appropriate, we use single-use products. If this is not possible, we use an autoclave to properly sterilize all of the items we use. We also follow sharps safety protocol for use, clean-up, and disposal. We will also be using additional High Vac intraoral and extraoral suction devices to help minimize aerosols.

Symptom Screening

All patients will be pre-screened for COVID-19 symptoms either by phone or online prior to their appointments. Upon arrival, we will take each patient’s temperature with a touchless infrared thermometer, and if it is above 100.4 ℉ we will reschedule. We are also taking our employees’ temperatures at the start of each day and screening them for symptoms.

Appointments

When possible, patients will wait in their cars and we will call them when we are ready for them to enter the office. We have also reconfigured our waiting room to maximize social distancing and will encourage any patients entering to wear a face mask. We will only allow the patient themselves into the office, except in the case of minors and adults who require a caretaker. If suitable, we will also be scheduling virtual appointments in place of office visits for certain types of care.

two wooden tooth brushes on the table for oral hygiene at oro valley dentist

Our Commitment to Safe Dental Care

Smith Dentalworks continues to be committed to your health and we strive to ensure our dental office is safe for our employees and patients. We appreciate the continued support of our community and are excited to continue helping you improve and maintain your oral health. We will continue to monitor the current situation in order to make the best decisions for the wellbeing of everyone involved. If you have any questions about our new or existing policies, please reach out and we will be happy to discuss them with you.

Safe Dental Care

Evolving Safety Protocols

Measures for Safe Dental Care