Infection Control

Our Infection Control Protocol

Information about infection control at North Bay Dental

Infection controls and universal precautions protect patients and team members alike. Everyone benefits from rigorous infection control—you, your dentist, and the dental team. Furthermore, the cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust, and you should feel free to discuss infection control with your dentist and receive straightforward answers.

North Bay Dental follows procedures recommended by several federal agencies: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Our infection control measures include:

• Disinfectant hand soap
• Gloves and face masks
• Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces
• Sterilization of all equipment before every use
• Finally, we use disposable materials whenever possible

Equipment sterilization

We sterilize all reusable equipment, including dental handpieces. We use an autoclave, a device that kills bacteria and viruses by steam, heat, and pressure.

The best defense against disease is information. Then, the more you know, the better equipped you are to make wise decisions about your health care. In addition, the more you know about our daily procedures and policies, the more comfortable you will feel.

Questions?

If you have any questions about our infection control protocols and standards, then please contact North Bay Dental by calling (415) 460-9744 or visit our contact page. Finally, ask your dentist any questions that you may have during your first visit, or any regularly scheduled appointment.

COVID-19 Workflow & Protocol Updates

For your appointment

• Please wear a mask for your appointment
• You will be asked a COVID-19 health screening questionnaire via email when you
  schedule your appointment, and one will be sent to you by text on the day of your
  appointment.
• Our reception area is at minimal use. We are asking you to remain in your vehicle and call or text us to let us know you have arrived.
• One of our team members will check your forehead temperature before admitting you into the treatment area.
• Once at the front desk area, we will also ask you to use a hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands.
• Our team will be using level III surgical masks, N95 and KN95 respirators, and small
  particle filtration masks throughout your experience at our office.
• We are trying to minimize the number of patients at the front office and therefore
  may ask you to prepay over the phone with a credit card or may collect payment in the treatment room.
• We are only letting the patient being treated into the building to reduce the number of person-to-person interactions unless special circumstances require otherwise.

Temperature

• Every patient that enters our practice is screened for symptoms and elevated temperature before they even enter the clinical area. If they are a risk, they are politely asked to leave, and the area is disinfected.

Handwashing

• We take handwashing very seriously. We ask that ALL patients wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before entering the clinical area, and we will, in turn, wash our hands in front of them!

Hourly disinfection of doorknobs and commonly touched surfaces

• Our team wipes down everything that has been in contact with a patient, and every hour goes through the office disinfecting door handles and other commonly touched surfaces.

Sneeze guards to protect against aerosol from the team and from patients

• We have incorporated sneeze guards to act as a barrier to prevent the spread of airborne
  aerosol from us to you and from you to us as well!

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

COVID-19 Screening Form

For the health and safety of all our patients, your visit to North Bay Dental will include a temperature reading and the following important screening questions.

Screening questions

• Have you had a fever within the last 14-21 days?
• Are you having shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
• Do you have a cough?
• Have you experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
• Have you been in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients?