Even as the country slowly begins to reopen, it’s essential to remember that the threat of COVID-19 isn’t gone. Social distancing is still the best way to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community safe from the novel coronavirus. But how can you maintain six feet of distance from others if you need dental care? Here’s how your Medford dentist is helping their patients stay apart and healthy during their appointments in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sequenced Patient Scheduling
Your dental team is working hard to safeguard your health before you even arrive to the practice. When you call to make your appointment, you may be offered fewer options that you were before the pandemic. To limit how many people are in the office at one time, your dentist is using sequenced patient scheduling and holding fewer appointments each day. This allows more time and physical space between patients as they enter and leave the practice. While it may be a little inconvenient, this measure goes a long way to minimize your exposure to others.
Virtual Waiting Rooms
When you arrive to the office, you’ll be asked to check in for your appointment from your car. This “virtual waiting room” is another way your Medford dentist is monitoring how many people are in close contact within their office. Your dental team will contact you when they’re ready for you to come in. Then, you can bypass the reception area entirely and go directly to your treatment room.
Touch-Free Greetings
Your dental team is thrilled to welcome you back to their practice, but they are temporarily postponing hugs and handshakes. COVID-19 particles can live on a variety of surfaces for long periods of time and can be easily transferred by hand. To prevent the spread of germs, your dental team will be using numerous creative touch-free greetings to keep you safe at your next appointment.
Changes to the Reception Area
Although you won’t be spending much time in the reception area during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may notice that several changes have been made there as well, including:
- Fewer available chairs, helpful signs, and one-way traffic areas to facilitate social distancing.
- No magazines, toys, or other activities to limit the number of frequently touched items.
- The low hum of new HEPA air filtration devices strategically placed throughout the office.
Helping their patients practice social distancing is just one of many ways your Medford dentist is working to keep you healthy during your appointment in COVID-19. Your next dental visit will likely look different than any you’ve had before, but you can still expect to receive the friendly, high quality, and comfortable dental care you’ve always enjoyed.
About the Author
Dr. Anthony Giamberardino has always been committed to the wellbeing of his patients and his community. He received the Harvard Community Health Plan Diamond Award for excellence in patient care and is active in numerous community organizations like the School Advisory Council for Shawsheen School, Wilmington, MA and the Medford Chamber of Commerce. After careful consideration, he has added 16 additional precautions to his thorough infection control protocols to ensure his patients are as safe as possible when getting dental care in COVID-19. If you’d like to learn more about his Commitment to Safety, feel free to reach him via his website or at (781) 396-3800.