The importance of PPE and infection control

Your home is your haven. In order to keep it that way, I know the importance of infection control and PPE (personal protective equipment) and I wanted to review the steps we take to make sure that you and your family stay safe and healthy.

Personal Protective Equipment: In order to make sure that each visit is as sterile as possible but also as environmentally friendly as possible, I use a new autoclaved or cleaned set of shoes and lab coat per visit. In addition, I have gloves, N-95 mask, as well as a face shield. Since this may make it difficult for your child to see my face, I ask that he or she sit in the teledentistry call so they can see I’m not really a bee-keeper :)

Infection Control: all instruments used in your home have been sterilized in an autoclave and stored in a sealed bag until ready to be opened and used in your home. Materials unable to be autoclaved are cleaned with Diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a proven anti-viral agent. For some children and some procedures, I may wipe your child’s mouth or ask them to rinse with a specific antiseptic mouthwash which has been shown to reduce transmission of viral particles. 

Healthy staff: In order to maintain both your health as well as mine, I take my temperature twice a day and will make sure to cancel all in-person appointments at the start of any possible symptoms. I also will send out a pre-visit screening questionnaire to patients and, unfortunately, cannot enter the home where anyone in the family has been ill or had symptoms in the last 14 days. I understand that this may be an inconvenience for the patients, but I hope you all understand that I have all our best interests at heart. In addition, I have had both nasal swab and antibody tests for COVID-19.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask!