How does the team protect themselves and others?
At Garine Prosthodontics, our entire team is dedicated to supporting the overall health of our patients. We recognize that directive extends beyond guiding on the best courses of treatment to improve their smiles. That is why we have made it our prerogative to adhere to and reinforce protocols to prevent cross-contamination from all potential bloodborne and airborne pathogens — COVID-19 included.
Our in-office protocols are just as stringent and comprehensive as those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Dental Association, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
One of the primary ways we protect our team members and our patients is with PPE. PPE stands for personal protective equipment, and often includes:
- Safety eyewear
- Surgical gowns
- Face shields
- Face masks
- Gloves
In an effort to follow social distancing guidelines, we have also staggered patient appointments to limit the number of people in the waiting room at a time. We ask that only the patient attends their appointment whenever possible.
We want to keep our office as clean and safe as possible so we can continue to serve our patients and the community in their prosthodontics journey. If you have any questions about our new procedures, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
When does the team use disinfectant hand soap?
We use disinfectant hand soap each time we enter a room with a new patient. That is a lot of hand washing, but we know just how essential it is to perform to keep our team members and patients safe. We also recommend that patients wash their hands often. We’ve provided no-touch sanitizer in our office for this purpose.
How does the team keep the Garine Prosthodontics office clean?
We have trained all our team members on the new protocols we have in place to keep our office clean and disinfected. We are using and regularly changing new HEPA filters at MERV-13 or higher in our air conditioning units, and we’re installing UVC lights in each unit to help purify the air. Team members clean the restroom regularly, and wipe down door handles at least every hour.
After an appointment in the exam room is complete, we take the time to thoroughly clean it, bagging up disposable tools and waste while wiping down surfaces with special disinfecting wipes. We disinfect the entire space with a specialized fogger and the use of the UVC light. If wait times are longer than usual, bear with us — we want to prioritize your safety.
In addition to these new protocols, every two days, a professional cleaning and disinfecting is at the office to completely sterilize our space.
How is equipment sterilized after use?
We have always followed an extensive and careful sterilization protocol at our office. This includes careful sterilization of all equipment we use that is not disposable. Team members clear visible debris from the instruments and equipment before loading them into the autoclave. The autoclave uses high-pressure steam to sterilize the tools. Special indicators on the packaging let us know when the tools within them are cleaned. We also regularly test the autoclave to make sure it is functioning properly.
Does the Garine Prosthodontics team use disposable tools?
Yes — whenever appropriate, we incorporate single-use, disposable tools into treatments. This means that each patient will get new tools that are sealed in a sterile package and used only in their particular treatment.
