Our Office cares about your safety and works hard to prevent the spread of infection. Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and disinfected. We also cover some equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.
Non-disposable items like the dental tools are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental tools and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to
use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear when needed. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their
hands and put on a new pair of gloves.
Your well-being is important to all of us at Mortimer Family Dentistry. That’s why infection control procedures are such a high priority.
What about the new coronavirus?
With so many news stories, it’s understandable to be concerned about the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Please know that the precautions we already take every day to prevent the spread of infection in our practice also helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition to our regular procedures we will be cleaning counters, door handles and other high touch areas throughout the day. We will also be asking our patients to rinse with an antimicrobial mouth rinse with Chlorhexidine (Peridex) prior to treatment.
It’s important to know that the majority of people infected with the coronavirus experience flu-like symptoms and then recover. Most people do not develop serious respiratory complications.
Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, among others. Children, thus far, have been largely unaffected.
Here are a few things you can do on your own to help keep yourself and those around you healthy:
- Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes or nose to reduce the spread of germs.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow. Infections like the coronavirus spread through the tiny droplets in coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home if you feel sick. If you have flu-like symptoms or otherwise feel unwell, stay home and rest. Call your dentist to reschedule your appointment for a later date. This will reduce the risk of spreading your illness.
At Mortimer Family Dentistry our number one consideration is to keep everyone safe and healthy while we continue to care for your dental needs. Thank you for working with us.
Sincerely, All of us here at Mortimer Family Dentistry.