While it may be surprising to hear, many positive COVID-19 cases have been found in patients who were entirely asymptomatic. This means that even if you do not have any signs of the condition, such as coughing, sneezing, or shortness of breath, it does not mean you are not necessarily spreading the disease within your community. For this reason, dentists are asking patients to be extra vigilant during their dental appointments. Below, you’ll find a dentist explain why dental office safety in Mesquite is so important as well as the most common questions they receive.
Why Are You Taking My Temperature at the Office?
The more a dentist knows about your current state of health, not just your oral health, the better able they are to serve you. During the current pandemic, dentists need to do everything possible to protect their team members and other incoming patients, and part of doing that is by taking the temperatures of everyone that visits, including those who have no symptoms at all. The fact of the matter is it’s possible to have a high fever caused by a viral infection without having other symptoms along the way. In the event that the dentist discovers a patient with a high fever, they will need to be sent home for the time being.
Why Can’t I Bring My Gloves Inside?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gloves should really only be worn when you are either:
- Cleaning and disinfecting your home
- A healthcare worker treating someone who either is or is suspected to be positive with COVID-19
If you’re wondering why this is, it’s important to recognize that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that is spread through infected droplets that are spread through the air. The virus is not infected directly through the skin, but rather when you touch an object carrying the virus and then touch your face. Since you can still touch your face with your gloved hands, gloves do not effectively prevent contraction of the disease. In summary, gloves are largely a haven for germs on their own. This is why dentists will ask patients to discard all patient gloves before entering the office.
Why Do I Have to Wear a Mask?
It’s understandable if you find wearing a mask uncomfortable, but it’s essential to understand how big of a role it plays in reducing the spread of COVID-19. But the proof is truly in the data that’s been studied on the subject. Research coming out of The New England Journal of Medicine back in April showed that wearing even a simple cloth mask can work to reduce the number of virus particles emitted from the mouth by as much as 99 percent. While wearing a mask can prevent you from inhaling harmful particles within the air (known as ingress), it can also prevent you from spreading particles that could potentially infect someone else (known as egress.)
Dentists are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but they need the help of patients as well. Your cooperation can make a huge difference!
About Texas Dentistry
The dentists at Texas Dentistry in Mesquite look forward to providing the community the dental services they need to maintain long-term positive oral health. Their detailed list of enhanced office safety protocols are designed to protect patient health by any means necessary. To learn more about these guidelines or schedule your next appointment, you can contact them through their website.