The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us and we are all handling it in different ways. You’ve been making an effort to always wear a mask, work from home when you can, and keep social gatherings to a minimum. Your dentist in Downtown Boston is also taking precautions to keep themself and patients safe from the virus, but what are the reasonings behind these new protocols? Continue reading to learn more about a few of them.
Why Do You Need to Wear a Mask at the Dentist?
One of the many new things that we have complied with this year is wearing a mask whenever we are in public spaces. Even though this can be frustrating at times, there is a good reason behind it! One of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads is through droplets that exit the mouth whenever you cough, sneeze, speak, and breathe. These droplets are then breathed in by others, causing them to become sick. You could be contagious even if you haven’t experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. The mask that you wear acts as an additional barrier to help catch many of these droplets as you exhale, preventing them from making their way to other people.
Why Am I Not Allowed to Wear My Gloves in the Office?
You may think that wearing gloves is helpful when it comes to preventing the virus from spreading, but this is only the case in a few instances. There are only two situations where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you wear gloves. The first is when you are cleaning or disinfecting your home. The other is if you are a healthcare worker who is treating someone who is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient. To become sick through tough, you would have to come into contact with something that is contaminated and then touch your face. Gloves do provide a barrier, but you can still become sick by touching your face with a gloved hand. In the end, washing your hands frequently with soap and water is a better idea.
Why Is the Dental Team Taking My Temperature?
The dental staff are making every effort they can to keep the practice COVID-19-free. Patient pre-screening is an important part of that. A fever is one of the many symptoms that someone with the virus may have, so it is best to check and ensure that a patient doesn’t have a fever before making further contact. Someone who has a fever may even feel fine and not know that they are sick. However, it could indicate that they have a viral infection. It may or may not be COVID-19, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
There have been many changes at the dental office, but they all are an effort to keep you, your family, and your staff and dentist in the Financial District safe and healthy. Search for a “dentist near me” so you can receive essential dental care with peace of mind.
About the Practice
At Devonshire Dental Associates, you have not just one, no two, but five doctors in total. The team consists of three general dentists, a periodontist, and an endodontist. In order to keep their office safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have implemented 17 additional dental safety protocols. For more information or to schedule an appointment at their office in Boston, visit their website or call (617) 350-7474.