{"id":357,"date":"2020-05-12T14:43:52","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T18:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virginiagregory.com\/blog\/?p=357"},"modified":"2023-03-27T18:42:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T18:42:35","slug":"dental-safety-protocol-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilecarolinadental.com\/blog\/dental-safety-protocol-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How Your Dentist Is Using PPE to Protect Patients and Themselves from COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the past couple of months, you\u2019ve been diligently adhering to the CDC\u2019s recommended social distancing guidelines and staying home as much as you can. One day, one of your teeth starts hurting seemingly out of nowhere. You think you might have a cavity, but you\u2019re a bit apprehensive to visit your dentist. Is it safe? Absolutely! Rest assured that your dentist<\/a> follows dental safety protocol by wearing much more PPE than they did before the pandemic struck. Keep reading to learn what PPE is and how your dental team wears it to prevent infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is PPE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is a category of protective gear that healthcare professionals wear in order to keep themselves and their patients safe from germs. Some common examples of PPE that your dentist might wear include surgical masks, face shields, shoe coverings, and surgical gowns. These items help prevent dangerous pathogens from directly entering the body and causing harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Is PPE Necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your dentist and their clinical team will wear PPE whenever they are treating a patient, particularly if dental aerosols will be produced. Dental aerosols are particles that are released from a patient\u2019s mouth whenever certain dental tools are used. These particles may consist of blood, saliva, and any germs that the patient is carrying. They can remain in the air for several minutes or even a few hours before settling on the ground. During this time, any germs in the aerosols could infect the dental team as well as patients who come in after you. As a result, PPE is necessary to prevent germ transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Exactly Should Your Dental Team Wear PPE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are multiple recommended sequences when it comes to wearing PPE, some of which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Entering a Treatment Area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prior to treating you, your dentist will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n