See How Dr. Sandler is Executing Safe Dentistry During COVID-19
After 2 months of social distance hibernation from business shut downs and personal interaction, Governor Baker allowed many sectors of the economy, including dental offices, to reopen for business on May 18, 2020. I would like to share with you what we did to prepare for that day when we could resume providing routine and needed dental care.
During the early spring shutdown, we averaged about 4-5 emergency patients a week for a variety of maladies, following Governor Baker strong recommendation to postpone all other elective dental care, endorsed by Mass Dental Society (MDS) and the American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines.
During the remainder of that time we were hard at work updating our operating systems, disinfection, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sterilization procedures to meet and exceed future MDS, ADA, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Some of the these include:
- Transitioning from analog paper charts to a completely digital record keeping system, thus eliminating the paper charts from our treatment rooms.
- Having our Heating/Ventilation/Airconditioning (HVAC)vendor recalibrate our modern, state-of-the-art HVAC system:
-to turn over the entire office air every 8 minutes through dual 110 volt electrostatic air scrubbers (which remove particles from the air down to 0.1 microns)
-maximize our ERV air exchanger to perform a complete outside fresh air exchange every 32 minutes
-supplement this ultra-modern system with dual REME-HALO whole air UV purification systems which completely inactivate any pathogens that could possibly slip through the electrostatic air scrubbers ensuring the flow of pure clean air throughout the facility.
- We routinely reshock our dental treatment water lines and update the filter system for our Vista Clear water purification system, providing pure clean water to all dental equipment.
- Revamped our infection control from Standard/Universal Precautions to Airborne Precautions. Our garb looks very different now when you enter the office, as we convert to wearing hair caps/bonnets, closed front gowns, double masks, and face shields.
- Scouring our dental supply companies for PPE. The hardest thing to acquire are the elusive N95/KN95 masks, shields, gowns, and bonnets. The lack of adequate PPE has been a major concern with national shortages of masks, gloves, caps , and gowns at different intervals. We moved to launderable surgical caps and custom made surgical gowns because it was far more environmentally friendly and we would thus never run out. We actually found light weight plastic electrical welder's shields which have worked out fantastic. We have up to this point been able to maintain an adequate supply of surgical masks and gloves, but their is always a threat of this supply drying up or being rationed. We will not treat patients unless we have an adequate supply of masks and gloves for the protection of our patients and our employees.
- Front desk staff are required to don professional healthcare wear and face masks. Clear acrylic sneeze guards have been installed at the front desk. Our spacious waiting room will have very limited seating and unfortunately will no longer have refreshments and reading materials available.
Relentlessly studying the latest research coming out on SARS-CoV-2 and its effects on patients and what steps are needed to mitigate exposure to this history changing pathogen for our patients and ourselves!
Here at Methuen Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we have always taken very seriously infection control with a recently upgraded, hospital grade, state-of-the-art Sterilization Center including:
- it’s own Vista Pure water purification system
- Hydrim G4 instrument washer
- hospital grade Hu-Friedy instrument cassettes
- wrapping station
- multiple sterilization autoclaves
- advanced instrument storage systems
We missed you and have enjoyed seeing all of our beloved patients return. We want you to feel safe when you arrive here for your dental appointments and will do everything possible to maintain a healthy, clean environment for your care.
Albert J Sandler DMD and Team
