Infection control competency and patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic
White Street Smiles Infection Control Competency
and Patient Safety
There are some news articles currently circulating that question the safety of receiving dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. These articles also mention the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to postpone dental care until more information is known.
The team at White Street Smiles would like to address your concerns about infection control competency and patient safety in our practice.
We are committed to patient safety
First, it’s important to note that COVID-19 is not the first major respiratory disease dentistry has had to face. In fact, dentistry has operated for decades, through outbreaks such as SARS, H1N1, and Influenza.
Perhaps more importantly, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found no evidence to show that any previous disease spread through dental offices, including COVID-19.
“To date, in the United States, clusters of healthcare personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been identified in hospital settings and long-term care facilities. There have been NO clusters reported in dental settings or among dental healthcare providers.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
We are committed to
infection control
The dental community has always been diligent and committed to stringent infection control protocols. For these reasons, the dental office has historically been a place of little, if any, respiratory infection transmission.
Now, White Street Smiles has incorporated even more stringent protocols that include:
- Curbside check-in
- Mandatory use of masks – by everyone
- Intra-oral high evacuation devices for each patient
- Installation of 3 UVC and 3 HEPA filters to treat circulating air
- Limited patients and guests in the office
- Removal of magazines
- And more…
We’re confident that these efforts, in addition to our already stringent cleaning protocols, highlight our commitment to our patients’ safety and that we are able to treat you in the safest manner possible.
“Joann and Melissa are the best! I have been going to this dental practice for over 6 years and my visits gets better and better every time! I feel like I am family when I am there!
During Covid times, it is difficult for all of us, but I can assure you that this practice is safe, safe, safe! The office is clean and sanitized and everyone is wearing double masks!
Just wanted to thank all the staff for making this another awesome experience! I would recommend this dental practice to everyone as your #1 family dental office!”
John | White Street Smiles patient
We are committed to oral health
We know that your oral health is an integral component of systematic health. Dentistry is an essential health care service because of its role in evaluating, diagnosing, preventing or treating oral diseases which can affect your overall health.
Therefore, we feel that routine dental care should be considered ESSENTIAL and not elective. It is important for us to help maintain your health and we feel confident that we can do it in the safe dental environment that we’ve worked hard to establish for our patients.
Any patient with concerns and/or questions about receiving dental treatment at White Street Smiles should call us directly 203-743-4670
Resources: Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA)
