OUR RESPONSE
TO COVID-19
Boston Dental Clinic’s number one priority during the Covid-19 pandemic is to ensure the safety of our employees and our patients. We acknowledge the severity of the situation and we extend our best wishes and health and happiness to everyone in our community at this time.
OUR RESPONSE
TO COVID-19
Boston Dental Clinic’s number one priority during the Covid-19 pandemic is to ensure the safety of our employees and our patients. We acknowledge the severity of the situation and we extend our best wishes and health and happiness to everyone in our community at this time.
AT BOSTON DENTAL, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR STERILIZATION PRACTICES AND WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED A HIGH-LEVEL OF HYGIENE.
But as the Covid-19 virus is a novel virus, we felt a pressing need to take action.
Despite that to the time of writing this article, no dental organization had outlined additional requirements or further protocols for operating in the Covid-19 pandemic, over a 4-week period Boston Dental Clinic has carried out independent research. This was so we could understand the Coronavirus better, how the virus is transferred between people, and additional safety precautions we can implement to ensure the health of all of our staff and patients. Measures the Boston Dental Clinic has taken include hospital-grade air filtration systems, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our staff, UV Disinfection Robots, Intra Oral Isolation techniques, and additional disinfection and cleaning between patients.
We are happy to share the findings of our studies (some of which are included here) with dental regulatory agencies and other colleagues within our industry. We will be fully staffed from the 18th of May onwards. Please note that not all dental emergencies will require a visit to our clinics. Our Virtual Dental Consult channel allows us to respond to your dental emergencies rapidly through teledentistry so you can avoid leaving your home unless it is absolutely necessary. Over the phone or on email, we can provide options for treatment, duration, steps, and advice. Dental insurance providers cover this so please make use of our virtual consultations; they save you time and costs, especially if you are not ready to proceed with treatment. Read more about how our Virtual Dental Consult works here.
Upon prior arrangement, we are also happy to welcome other dentists to Boston Dental Clinic who would like to treat their patients in our controlled and safe environment.
(Covid-19 pandemic)
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses. Currently, Covid-19 is causing a global pandemic, originating from China. The exact nature of the survival of these organisms in the environment is currently unknown, but from previous studies on a related strain (the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus – SARS-CoV), it is estimated to survive several days in the environment. Also related, the Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can withstand more than 48 hours at average room temperature (20 °C) on different surfaces.
Disinfection of the environment and eradication of the virus on surfaces is achievable through a variety of fogging devices, typical cleaning methods, UV-C light. Transferring the virus between people can be reduced through the use of personal protective equipment. Here are some additional measures that Boston Dental has implemented to ensure the safety of our staff and patients:
Our HVAC is installed with hospital-grade Sanuvox air filtration systems. Sanuvox is the leading manufacturer in Ultraviolet and Object Purification. These air filtrations trap sub-micron particles that can be harmful to your health and they remove at least 99.97% level airborne particles, as small as 0.3 microns. Specific CV wavelengths then destroy and deactivate biological and chemical contaminants. The Sanuvox air filtration system does this by penetrating the cell membrane, attacking and breaking down the DNA structure of the microorganism, inhibiting its reproduction. A portion of the lamp, Vacuum UV is then used for Oxidization. Both UV wavelengths work together to destroy thousands of biological and chemical contaminants. These high-end filters are also used in hospitals and stop the spread of disease-causing organisms including bacteria, viruses, droplet nuclei, mold spores, and fungi.
Our infection prevention UV Disinfection Robots integrate proven UV germicidal industrial solutions with advanced technologies, eradicating harmful pathogens, viruses, infectious diseases, bacteria, and superbugs. While eradicating the coronavirus from surfaces is achievable by traditional cleaning methods, UV-C light provides an alternative method of decontaminating the environment. The autonomous robot by UVD Robots uses eight UV-C ultraviolet lights to disinfect rooms and provides 360° degree disinfection coverage, which kills 99.99% of bacteria. UV Disinfection Robots can treat a room in 10 minutes with a process that damages the DNA and RNA structure of harmful microorganisms, preventing them from multiplying. The robot is safe, reliable, and eliminates human error. Produced and manufactured by a Danish company, UVD Robots are clinically tested and verified at Odense University Hospital and by independent microbiological laboratories and create a new standard for automated and secure disinfection. Watch a short video on the effectiveness of UV Robots here.
Successful restorations in dental patients depend largely on the effective control of moisture and microbes during the procedure. The rubber dam technique for technique is a widely used isolation method in dental restoration treatment. By isolating the tooth with a thin, 6-inch square sheet made of latex or nitrile, we isolate the operative site (one or more teeth) from the rest of the month and greatly reduce moisture. This also allows us to greatly reduce and limit the use of aerosols which can be known to transfer viruses. In addition to installing A CONTINUOUS suction devices to reduce
Aerosols and spatter in dental hygiene visits, as continuous suction
through HVE can reduce aerosols by almost 90 percent.
We use CaviCide, a highly effective general-purpose disinfectant for cleaning throughout the day between patients. CaviCide has been clinically tested to clean, decontaminate, and disinfect equipment surfaces and non-critical instruments in hospitals laboratories and other critical care areas where environmental control of cross-contamination is important. This is administered via a spray to reach all areas, even places that can be hard to access. Read more here.
Based on current evidence, the World Health Organization recommends PPE for the care of patients for contact and droplet precautions. We invested in the most sophisticated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our Boston Dental staff. We know that by protecting our staff with PPE, we are also protecting our patients. All of our staff wear N95 masks, eye goggles, face shields, and coveralls of the highest quality. Only clinical staff who are trained and competent in the use of PPE are allowed to enter the patients operating room. Our PPE is properly looked after, cleaned thoroughly and maintained, and appropriately stored when it’s not in use. Thank you to the public health program that helped us obtain these valuable goods.
Rapid COVID-19 Testing
We are committed to treating our patients in a very safe and careful manner. Even if you are carrying the Covid-19 virus, or believe that you may have it, we will still be able to operate if you have a dental emergency. For this, we have dedicated one day per week to treat patients who have Covid-19. Appropriate deep cleaning and disinfectant measures are carried out between patients to avoid cross-contamination. We are working with Abbott laboratories to obtain our very own testing devices.
Boston Dental Clinic is providing a safe and controlled operating environment for dental emergencies. We encourage you to email us at appointments@bostondental.com if you have any questions on our research or the additional safety precautions we are taking throughout and following the Covid-19 pandemic.
From all of us at Boston Dental Clinic, stay well and stay safe.
Boston Dental Clinic are providing a safe and controlled operating environment for dental emergencies. We encourage you to email us at appointments@bostondental.com if you have any questions on our research or the additional safety precautions we are taking throughout and following the Covid-19 pandemic.
From all of us at Boston Dental Clinic, stay well and stay safe.
