The next time you visit your dentist in El Reno, you can expect things to be a little different compared to your last appointment. Firstly, you’ll be asked to wait in your car when you arrive, allowing everyone to easily maintain social distancing. Once you’re brought to the back, you’ll likely notice that your dentist is sporting some new headgear. In addition to a face mask, they will also have a large face shield. This simple piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) goes a long way in keeping both you and your dentist safe from COVID-19, and to learn how, simply read on below.

When Masks Aren’t Enough

The primary goal of wearing a facemask is to prevent someone from unknowingly spreading oral droplets that contain the novel coronavirus, since many people are asymptomatic for up to a week after being infected. If you’re making a quick trip to the grocery store, the combination of a mask and social distancing will keep you and everyone else safe. But as we all know, in dentistry, getting up close and personal is essential to the process.

Face shields provide a necessary extra layer of protection for dentists by covering their nose and mouth as well as their eyes, ears, chin, and front of the neck from contamination. Tiny, invisible saliva and blood droplets enter the air during even the most routine dental procedures, and these particles could potentially contain the virus. With a face shield, these droplets have a dramatically lower chance of entering your dentist’s body and causing infection compared to if they were just wearing a mask. By keeping themselves infection-free, dentists and their teams can preserve the health of their patients by stopping the spread of the virus.

Easy Disinfection

Another big benefit of face shields is that they are easy to disinfect and clean between appointments. Doing so will be a part of your dental practice’s elevated sanitation protocols, so when you sit in the chair, you can trust the mask your dentist is wearing is just as clean as when it was first taken out of the box.

Do You Need to Wear a Face Shield?

Unless you have a job that involves coming into close contact with several people every day, there’s no need for you to wear a face shield. A mask, social distancing, and frequently washing your hands will keep you perfectly safe. Your dentist takes this extra precaution given the nature of dental work, but you don’t need a shield just to run a quick errand.

While they might look strange initially, face shields are just one of the many additional safety protocols dental practices around the country are putting into place, and they all serve to keep communities healthy while allowing patients to feel safe and relaxed during their appointments. So, when you see your dentist with a face shield, be happy that you do, because this means they are taking your health as seriously as you!

About the Author

Dr. Adam Cohlmia is a family and general dentist who graduated from the OU College of Dentistry. COVID-19 safety in El Reno has been his top priority since the pandemic started, which is why he and his team have implemented several new protocols that you can read about here. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment, be sure to contact El Reno Family Dentistry today.