All of us at Boulder Dental Designs sincerely hope you, your friends and family are healthy during these potentially stressful times.
We reassure you that we are doing everything we can to avoid reducing office hours as the COVID-19 coronavirus impacts our community. At this time, we will remain open for our regular office hours unless otherwise instructed by local public officials or are unable to operate safely due to lack of supplies.
Please rest assured that our team is committed to continue practicing prevention techniques in our homes and here at the office and we are prepared to take care of you in a safe manner.
In addition to following prevention recommendations set forth by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the WHO (World Health Organization) as shown below, we continue to utilize the specific safety guidelines set forth by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the CO State Board and other public health organizations and are monitoring any changes to recommendations closely.
Protocols We Follow
Infection control protocol:
We continue to follow the OSHA universal precautions guidelines. These guidelines recommend that we operate as though each patient is in an acute febrile phase of disease. All surfaces are disinfected using hospital grade disinfectants between each patient visit. All instruments are sterilized and bagged after each patient use and the office is cleaned between patients and every evening. All staff use barrier protection while treating patients, handling materials and instruments and while cleaning. This means wearing well-fitting nitrile gloves, eye protection, and masks. Additionally, our team has decided to go beyond OSHA recommendations and launder their entire uniform in-office in addition to their personal protective attire.
We have implemented the use of rubber dam isolation for restorative procedures:
The use of rubber dams can significantly minimize the production of contaminated aerosol or spatter, particularly in cases when high-speed dental handpieces are used. It has been reported that the use of rubber dams could significantly reduce airborne particles in ~3-foot diameter of the operational field by 70%.
Each patient will use a Hydrogen Peroxide based mouth rinse before dental procedures:
A pre-operational antimicrobial mouth rinse is generally believed to reduce the number of oral microbes. However, as instructed by the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (the 5th edition) released by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, chlorhexidine, which is commonly used as mouth rinse in dental practice, may not be effective to kill 2019-nCoV. Since 2019-nCoV is vulnerable to oxidation, pre-procedural mouth rinse containing oxidative agents such as 1% hydrogen peroxide or 0.2% povidone is recommended instead, for the purpose of reducing the salivary load of oral microbes, including potential 2019-nCoV carriage.
Front Office Protocol:
The common areas, door knobs, coffee station, and in-office restrooms are routinely wiped down daily. The reception area is carefully observed for any escort or family member that is experiencing any coughing or upper respiratory distress.
What we are asking of our patients:
We ask that you keep your appointments if you are also well. Please evaluate yourself based on the following checklist to determine if you should reschedule an appointment. If you answer yes to any of these questions, and are not having a dental emergency, then please postpone. *If you cannot keep an appointment, please let us know as far in advance as possible so we can reschedule you and have our team help other patients. We typically ask for 48 hour notice and request to continue this if it is possible for you.
Self- Checklist:
- Do you have a fever or have you experienced a fever within the past 14 days?
- Have you experienced a recent onset of respiratory problems, such as a cough or difficulty in breathing within the past 14 days?
- Have you been in contact with anyone with a confirmed CoVid-19 infection?
- Have you recently traveled to the EU, China, South Korea?
- Have you recently been in contact with someone who has traveled to the EU, China or South Korea?
Please practice hand hygiene. Whether it’s the ABC’s or the Hail Mary, scrub til you’re done or about 20 seconds of hand washing.
Be flexible! This will pass. As our schedule is evolving with postponed appointments, we are asking our scheduled patients to consolidate to fill in the schedule. We want to minimize any lost workdays for our staff.
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For the most up-to-date information on possible vaccines, treatments, FAQs, news and more, please visit the following official health organizations:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
www.CDC.gov
World Health Organization (WHO)
www.WHO.int
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We are here for you.
