Dental offices in Texas are now open with additional safety protocols for patients. All these measures have been taken after following new guidelines to ensure that patients get the required treatment safely amid COVID-19. Dentists are exercising independent professional judgment to ensure that patients in need of dental emergencies in Texas, do not get deprived of the required treatment, when they arrive at offices. Our dental offices in Texas are also ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment and are diligently following COVID-19 workplace safety guidelines in dental offices, to protect the health of patients, dentists, and other staff members all together.
A set of new guidelines will be followed with respect to the waiting area, office reception, screening questions, removal of high-touch items like magazines, newspapers & toys, the number of patients allowed to accompany a patient, and others. Our offices have made these new guidelines simple and convenient for you so that care and protection from coronavirus can both go hand in hand.
Scheduling dental appointments amid COVID-19 is now not only possible but also safe in Texas. You just need to be aware of the following aspects when your next visit gets scheduled.
Reporting emergencies to your dentist amid COVID-19
If you or any of your family members are experiencing pain or discomfort in their gums or teeth, do not hesitate to report your dental emergency to your dentist. The office staff will assess the situation and will advise you accordingly or will ask you to meet your dentist on a priority basis. Uncontrolled bleeding from the gums, cellulitis, swelling of the mouth are some of the conditions that may be judged by your dentist as an emergency. Getting care for dental emergencies during the coronavirus pandemic is possible now in Texas. We have adopted new safety protocols to treat your emergencies while protecting you and your near ones from getting exposed to coronavirus when you visit us.
What may be considered a dental emergency?
Any condition, which when left untreated has the potential to affect your overall health, can be considered as an emergency by your dentist. The professionals will use their experience to evaluate whether the symptoms exhibited constitute an emergency or not, and will accordingly recommend and suggest a treatment.
Scheduling appointments amid COVID-19
If you already have a pre-scheduled visit for a routine cleaning or for braces tightening with your orthodontist, you will get a confirmation call from the dental office at least a day before your appointment is scheduled for. In other cases, when you need to fix an appointment for an emergency such as falling off the crown or breaking of the denture, inform them immediately about your situation. Your dentist will evaluate your situation and may allow you to visit one of the dental offices in Texas on a priority basis so that you can be kept out of the emergency room.
Screening of your health before an appointment
A day before your appointment, you will receive a call from the office staff who may have a set of screening questionnaires for you. Simple questions such as your body temperature, any symptoms such as cough or breathing problems, etc. will be asked from you by the consulting staff member. Similar screening questions will be asked from you when you arrive at the office for your treatment.
Arrival at your dental office
You will then be confirmed by the office staff on the scheduled day informing you about your time slot. You may be asked to wait in your car once you reach the office location. You should walk into the dental office only when you get a confirmation SMS or a call from the office staff. The day at the office is scheduled and pre-planned in such a way that there is minimum inconvenience to the patients arriving at the dental office.
Carry along accessories
The office staff will let you know if you need to carry your own mask or any other PPE. In all likelihood, they will give you a new disposable mask to wear while you undergo your treatment. Please take the advice of the office staff if you need to have gloves or goggles supplied to you as well during the treatment.
Changes in the dental office set up
You may notice no seating arrangement in the waiting area of the dental office as only one patient is allowed to come inside at a given time. Once the patient goes out after the treatment only then the next scheduled patient is allowed to come inside the office for attend the treatment. All high touch items such as magazines or toys have been removed to neutralize any chance of cross-contamination.
Come along caregiver
Patients are advised to come alone for the appointment unless the company of a caregiver is required. Only one patient at a time is allowed inside to avoid crowding and to maintain social distancing at the office. With a child, it is being advised that only one parent should accompany the child to the dental office.
During Care
You will find everyone in the dental office including your dentist and other staff wearing PPE and gloves. Every surface that gets touched by anyone is getting cleaned every time before a new patient comes in. Separate emergency rooms have been made for patients who may need to stay longer at the office depending on the nature of their treatment.
Under the new protocol and guidelines, patients’ next visit to their dentists in Texas will be a lot different than earlier one. This new protocol will help you in protection against coronavirus while you continue to receive dental care. Our staff is going to make you feel at ease. In case of any further queries or clarifications, feel free to call us or drop an email. You may also visit our website for a live chat. We want you to KEEP SMILING & Be SAFE.
