At North Seattle Dental, we’re here to make sure that your dental health and your overall health are always the best they can be! After all, they are both connected to keeping you healthy throughout the year.
Because of the recent developments with the Novel Coronarvirus (COVID-19), we know that you may have questions about how we’re handling dental appointments, as well as the issues involved with this virus.
The CDC guidelines recommend that if we have a patient that presents symptoms of a respiratory infection, we may consider postponing non-emergency or elective dental procedures until a patient is no longer contagious. This is not a deviation from any previous protocol, as we always advise patients to stay home if they are ill.
If you are experiencing any acute signs of respiratory illness, including symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness or breath, please stay home and reschedule your appointment. If you have an emergency dental need and you are symptomatic, we will address it on a case by case basis.
Our primary infection control goal is to prevent the transmission of disease. The risk for transmission in a public setting is low at this time. The risk for transmission in a dental office is extremely low. By law, we take universal precautions for every patient to prevent this risk of infectious disease of any disease. This includes our usual protocols for instrument sterilization, treatment room disinfection and the use of barriers on everything that gets touched. Clinical staff always wear surgical masks and eye protection. We have instructed staff to stay home if they are sick. We are committed to your health and exercise vigilance with all our prevention protocols, even if the risk to the general public remains low.
The recommendations are likely what you have heard already.
- If you are sick, stay home.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds.
- Disinfect regularly touched surfaces.
- Healthy individuals do not need to wear masks.
If you experience acute signs of respiratory illness and have a direct connection to a known source of infection, call your health professional.
Your safety and good health are always our top priority. If you have any questions, please call us at (206) 524-1000 or contact us online.
Your Dentists and dental team at North Seattle Dental.