COVID-19

Rest assured that our office has always been at the forefront of infection control and patient safety.  We are carefully staying up to date with all enhanced recommendations from the CDC, OSAP, ADA, and NJDA, in conjuntion with the NJ Governor's Office.  Here are some of the things that we are doing to make your dental care as safe as possible - including many things we've been doing all along... well before COVID-19:

​

HIGH VOLUME EVACUATION (HVE) / SUCTION,  HEPA FILTRATION and AIR FLOW

We have been working diligently with Above and Beyond HVAC to enhance the filtration and air flow in our office, particularly in our dental treatment rooms. High volume evacuation (HVE) / suction is utilized for any procedure that may generate spray or aerosols, having the ability to remove a volume of air up to 100 cubic feet per minute. HVE offers the best solution for controlling aerosol particles before they leave the mouth. Studies have shown that  HVE can reduce 90% to 98% of dental aerosols.(1)

Additionally, HEPA filtration is being employed throughout the office.

 

PRE-APPOINTMENT SYMPTOM AND TEMPERATURE SCREENING

Prior to scheduling, and upon arrival, patients are screened for COVID-19 / upper respiratory illness symptoms, potential contact with suspected or known COVID positive or othrwise ill persons, and have their forehead temperature taken.  If there is any concern of potential exposure or illness, or an elevated temperature reading, that patient will not be seen by the office at that time and referred to their physician for evaluation.  What this means is that any patients that have been in the office before you have been pre-screened, greatly reducing the risk of possible exposure for you.

​

​

PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT) and PATIENT MASKS

All of our staff will not only utilize appropriate PPE during clinical patient care, but will be wearing  masks throughout the entire day and in all areas of the office.    All patients are required to wear a mask prior to entering the office and to do so at all times except of course during their dental treatment.  Long before the pandemic, Dr. Ciuffreda had been using a full face shield, and providing protective eyewear for his patients to wear during their dental care.  Office staff have always employed frequent hand washing and use of antibacterial gels, especially before and after patient care.

 

FRONT DESK AND WAITING AREA SAFETY

As a double safety measure on top of both patients and staff wearing masks, plexiglass droplet barriers have been custom fabricated for our front desk area.  A supply of fresh clean pens are available for any signatures, which are then placed immediately in a "used"-labelled container.  All front desk contact surfaces, waiting room contact surfaces, doorknobs, credit card terminal, and the patient bathroom are regularly cleaned and disinfected. 

​

SOCIAL DISTANCE SCHEDULING

While we have always maintained our schedule with minimal, if any, side booking so that we can devote our care and time to each and every patient, we are taking further steps to  space our appointments so that there is minimal potential for overlap of patients, or proximity to another patient in our hallway or waiting area. 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION

All of our disinfection and sterilization procedures have always met or exceeded standards set by the ADA, CDC and OSHA. This of course includes our hand pieces (“drills”) as well as all other equipment. Treatment rooms have always been thoroughly disinfected between each and every patient.  Dental offices, such as ours, have always implemented stringent infection control standards long before the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

DENTAL WATERLINES

As part of our infection control program, all of our treatment rooms have been equipped with an external water supply resevoir for some time now This allows all of our water lines to be  flushed and disinfected regularly with an antibacterial treatment.  Furthermore, we monitor treatment room water supply quality to be sure that it is appropriate for dental care.
 

​

Reference:

1. Harrel SK. Contaminated dental aerosols. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 1(6);2003:16-20.