Extended protocols due to COVID-19

Testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in dental professionals should be undertaken with the same high priority as that of medical health-care workers in hospitals. The risk of a dental practitioner being positive for COVID-19 and potentially infecting patients attending emergency dental services should not be underestimated. Proactive and preventive measures need to be established as mainstay protocol to contain the spread of the virus.

On March 30, 2020, Procopio Towle Dental Office team completed the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training. During this training we were also provided additional information with the extended guidelines due to COVID-19.

Our Front Desk team members will be wearing facial masks and gloves when providing admin services to patients.

Our Clinical team members diligently wear personal-protective equipment (PPE) and have taken an extra step by wearing disposable attire – gowns, hair net, masks (N95), gloves, and shoe booties.

When patients call to schedule an appointment, our Front Desk will pre-screen the patients to ascertain:

Travel History in last 2 months

Symptoms – Fever, Coughing, Respiratory Issues

Whether the patient has had any contact with individual(s) with COVID-19

This will be preceded by an additional screening of patients when they arrive at Dr Procopio’s dental practice to ensure safe measures are carried out to prevent the transmission of the virus (detailed below).

When a patient arrives to the office we will:

Screen patient – inspect their current symptoms.

Provide patient with protective clothing as well as appropriate disinfectants such as shoe booties, tissue and hand sanitizers in order to minimise the risk of virus transmission

Some of our waiting room chairs will be removed to keep the distance between patients

Limit number of non-patients - unless patient is a minor or a caregiver

Clean and disinfect all clinical contact surfaces that are not protected by impervious barriers using a Cal-EPA registered, hospital grade low- to intermediate-level disinfectant after each patient. Use of disinfectants will be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Clean all housekeeping surfaces (e.g. floors, walls, sinks) with a detergent and water, or a Cal-EPA registered, hospital grade disinfectant.