Health

I have been going to this DDS for over 15 years, and have bad teeth, so I go a lot. My regular cleaning appointment got bumped a few times due to covid, about 3 weeks ago got the text to make that appointment so I did. On the phone I was told to text when I arrive, if they don't text me after a minute or so to say whether I can enter or not (the office can see the parking lot, and its stand alone, so if a cars in the lot, its there for the DDS). All that to ensure no crowd in the waiting area. After in the office, have to take a quick medical check you know the form now, travel, symptoms etc plus temp check. I said been going there for a long time, so I commented that I was worried about them, as in for there health. Boy I got the tour, on what they're doing now.

1. No room is used prior to a full scrub down, then "time out" for over two hours. So after I sat in that exam room, all surfaces (including the floor), wiped/mopped, then no one enters for 2 + hours.

2. All workers are hazmat ready. N95 masks with basic surgical over it, full plastic face shield, those baggie disposable medical scrubs including the booties of course gloves. Added bonus, the DDS installed a washer dryer and a shower so employees can wash the scrubs they are wearing under the "suit" in the office and change between appointments. My oral hygienist said she tosses her scrubs in after every patient, and uses the shower before she goes home so she feels safer about interacting with her family.

3. No water, no really the spit bowl is turned off, you now rinse your mouth prior to your exam with a combo of hydrogen peroxide and listereen for a bit over a minute, then spit it in your dixi cup, the liquid is then transferred in to a medical waste jug.

4. My normal cleaning involves the following, first they put that suction tube in you mouth, then they have a "high pressure water pick" type device that they use. Not this time, no suction, and no high pressure water. It was the old scrape it off only, with that listereen hydrogen peroxide solution on cotton rounds used to wipe as they go, with again all the waste going into a medical waste container.

5. I only had a cleaning so I am unsure what they do about other procedures. But I will say, I was very comfortable with what they were doing in the office. For myself as the customer, and for all employees. In some ways I am more worried about how long they can afford to due everything that they are doing. Some of it is a one time expenses, the washer dryer and shower facility. But the extra costs of having rooms unused, the extra disposable medical scrubs, N95 masks, and extra medical waste disposal fees have got to be hurting their bottom line, if they have to continue I know they will also have raise there fees (its reasonable to expect), I am lucky, I have good dental and a long term relationship with them, so they accept a "down payment" rather than full payment.