We have always believed that going to the dentist is a safe, effective practice — and now we have proof to back that up. According to a recent study reported by the American Dental Association (ADA), only 2.6% of dentists in the U.S. were infected with COVID-19 during some of the highest points of infection seen during the pandemic in 2020. The study surveyed nearly 2,200 dentists across the U.S. each month from June 2020 to November 2020. During this period, the U.S. experienced a spike in cases in the fall. However, dentists only reported a COVID-19 diagnosis among 0.5% to just over 1% each month. In total, less than 3% of dentists reported contracting COVID-19 during this period. In contrast, some reports have seen other medical frontline workers — like doctors and nurses — with an infection rate near 30%. A few reasons could explain these findings. For starters, dentists don’t regularly work with people who are sick or infected, like professionals in hospitals or clinics do. That contributes to a discrepancy between the fields in terms of infection rates. But more importantly for your family and you, a large reason dentist infection rates remained low during the COVID-19 Why Less Than 3% of Dentists Got COVID-19 AND WHY THAT MATTERS TO YOU
pandemic is because of standard hygiene procedures and increased usage rates and quality in these procedures. Simply put, dentists have been germaphobes since long before it was cool! For starters, masks have always been essential to all dental practices. Everyone on your dental team should “mask up” before entering your room to limit the spread of germs they may be carrying, which could come from another patient or their daily interactions. This made masking easily adaptable for dental practices, and some practices change their masks in between each patient for added safety. Furthermore, sterilization is vital to the continuation of a dental practice. Assistants, hygienists, and doctors in a dental clinic use their tools in one of your body’s most vulnerable places: the mouth. Transmission of viral, blood, and other communicable diseases can all occur within the mouth. For this reason — and because it’s gross not to — dental instruments, chairs, countertops, and handles are routinely sanitized and wiped clean between patients. Finally, dental experts have made significant improvements to an already fairly clean system. When COVID-19 struck our nation, dental practices were forced to shutter for weeks, if not months. Many dentists used this time to install improved air filtration systems in their practices to better clean the air for their patients, who often sit in their clinics with open and exposed mouths. Dental practices also instituted screening measures that have limited exposure among patients and staff. So, what does this mean for you and your family? It means you can have peace of mind knowing that a visit to a dental practice will be safe and effective, safeguarding your family from the spread of germs and diseases. The ADA’s study proves that hygiene protocols in dental practices do protect staff and patients from contracting illnesses, while providing safe, proactive care for your oral health. You can learn more about dental safety practices online at ADA.org and call us today if you would like to learn more about our hygiene protocols.
2 • WWW.GREATSMILESNJ.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker