Client Safety: A Daily Measure

With the panic and misinformation surrounding the Coronavirus, I am taking the time to shed some light on the safety measures we use at Biltmore Innovative Dentistry every day and for every patient as part of our universal precaution measures.

Individualized Care

First off, Biltmore Innovative Dentistry dental office is probably one of the safest places I can think of. Everything is sterilized several times daily. As a private dental office, our waiting room is usually empty because we see only one patient at a time. There is no packed waiting room full of sick people. If you’ve been to my office, you have probably never seen the reception area full of people waiting to be seen. That is by design since I started my practice. The lobby chairs are empty because the patient is inside. I try to book one patient at a time and give them my full attention.

Safety As A Rule

Our regular patient safety measures ensure cross-contamination risks are minimized. After each patient visit, every surface of the treatment area is disinfected with a hospital-grade, intermediate-level disinfectant. Cavicide, our disinfectant of choice, is bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal. It is used in hospital operating rooms, NICU’s and patient care areas. Not only does it kill the COVID-19 virus, but it also kills MRSA (mersa), the hepatitis virus and HIV. The tabletops, trays, treatment chair arms and seats, large equipment and computer equipment are disinfected. Other surfaces are covered with disposable covers, changed between each patient.

Disposable barriers protect our clients even further. Did you realize that the patient napkin chain is rarely wiped down between patients? My office has always used disposable paper ribbons instead of the usual chain or reusable clip. Our computer mouse and keyboard are covered with disposable barriers.

Those who have visited my office already know we have hands-free handwashing stations at each patient chair and hands-free hand-sanitizer mounted throughout the office and have since our office opened. My staff and I use them multiple times during each patient visit. Even our patients use them.

Diligent Disinfection

Surfaces in the reception area are disinfected several times a day including the patient terminal, mouse, keyboard and screen, light switches and door handles. Even the reception counter and the leather chairs are sanitized! We do not have magazines in the reception lobby that harbor disease from being touched by dozens, if not hundreds of previous visitors. Magazines cannot be sanitized!

Every item that goes in a patient’s mouth is sterilized in our brand-new autoclave and kept in its protective, sealed bag until it is opened chairside. Those that can’t be autoclaved are soaked in a hospital-grade germicidal rinse overnight and transferred into a clean, sealed storage bag.

Consistent Priorities

The safety of our patients and our staff is always our top priority. We have been diligent before the COVID-19 scare and will continue to maintain the highest efforts to ensure our office is exceptionally sanitized.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer Ebner