If you’re worried about receiving dental care from your emergency dentist in Skokie due to the threat of COVID-19, rest-assured that they’re taking the proper preventive measures to prioritize your health. Without the proper timely care, emergency situations such as a tooth infection can become severe and even result in tooth loss. That’s why it’s best to visit your emergency dentist sooner rather than later. Read on to learn about four ways they’re protecting their community from the spread of COVID-19 while providing necessary dental treatments.
Daily Team Health Checks
Every day, when the dental staff arrives at the practice, they will undergo a screening process to make sure that they aren’t experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. This includes answering a basic questionnaire that outlines early signs of the virus as well as taking their no-touch temperature to make sure they don’t have a low-grade fever. This will ensure that the dental staff is healthy and it’s safe for them to continue treating patients.
Virtual Waiting Room & Check-In
To limit the traffic through the office, your dentist in Skokie is also turning your car into a waiting and check-in area. That way, you don’t have to come into contact with chairs and other furniture that other patients have. Once it’s time for your appointment, you’ll be led directly back to the treatment room, which will limit the spread of the virus via shared surfaces like waiting room chairs. This also allows the dental team to significantly reduce the chances that multiple patients will be in the office at the same time.
Dental Staff PPE
According to the CDC, personal protective equipment is one of the most vital preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Because your dentist and hygienists will be working in your mouth and potentially exposed to saliva and blood droplets that could cause infection, it’s important for them to wear a variety of safety and protective gear. This includes masks, face shields, gloves, and eye protection. After each patient, these will be disposed of or thoroughly sanitized to avoid the spread of germs.
Virtual Consultations
If you’re on the fence about whether you need to visit an emergency dentist and don’t want to chance it by scheduling an appointment, you can always plan a virtual consultation. This appointment can be attended in the comfort and safety of your own home. Your dentist will listen to your symptoms and examine any videos or pictures that you have and let you know whether they require an in-person visit. In some cases, a simple change of oral hygiene products or at-home treatment may suffice to fix the issue. If you do need to schedule a treatment, your dentist can do that over your virtual consultation as well.
Keep in mind that these are only four of the 24 new precautionary measures put in place by your dentist in Skokie to make sure that your health always comes first. If you have any questions, you can always contact your dentist directly!
About the Author
Dr. Ali Fulreader enjoys helping her patients optimize their oral health by providing them with high-quality treatments and knowledge. She loves treating patients of all ages and always puts their health and safety first. She also regularly completes advanced education for specialized services, including CEREC and Invisalign. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Weiss Dental Arts’ website or call 847-864-0188.