The New York Times recently published a great piece about visiting the dentist during COVID, containing guidelines, questions to ask, and tips for staying safe. Here are our answers to the questions in that article, outlining how BOCO Dental plans to keep you and our team safe during the pandemic.

We see a maximum of 4 patients at a time and stagger their start times to limit contact with other patients. We have 6-8 members of our staff in the office each day. We monitor the health of our staff and each patient, and take the temperature of each person that walks into the building.

We have always used aerosol reducing rubber dams, but have also incorporated the Dry Shield as well as UV filtration in every exam room and common spaces (RGF Plug In Plus Air Purification System). We have implemented the use of COVID-specific PPE, above and beyond that which we were previously using.

We allow 20 minutes in between each patient in every exam room. This allows us to implement extra sanitation of the space prior to the next patient’s arrival and lets the air cycle through the UV filtration system.

The team at BOCO Dental always wipes every surface with Cavicide and 99% alcohol in between patients. We have also installed an air filtration system in every treatment room as well as throughout the office, purchased additional equipment to help mitigate aerosols, and have put up a permanent sneeze guard at the front office.

We are happy to report that – to date – we have not had any known COVID cases connected to this dental office. We have a strict policy in place to test our staff if any person in the office shows symptoms or has a positive test.

When you come in for your appointment, you will see a sneeze guard by reception, UV air purification on the wall, additional HEPA filters, and two-mask systems for BOCO Dental staff, as well as face shields.

First, we ask that you use our curbside check-in (call upon arrival), which allows us to get you seated quickly, and reduces your time in common spaces. In response to COVID-19 and to help keep you safe, face masks are required upon entry, exit and while in common spaces. Every patient and staff member will have a temperature check upon entering the office. After removing your mask, but prior to treatment, we ask that all patients rinse with peroxide base rinse which reduces the amount of any viral load in your oral cavity.

We hope that all of our patients feel safe coming to BOCO Dental for treatment during this challenging time.

Please call our office if you have any additional questions about our COVID-19 response or if you would like to schedule your next visit!