WIth the coronavirus panic taking over, it’s easy to fear common activities like going to the dentist due to the fear of catching the virus. Every few years there seems to be a new virus that pops up and catches the media’s attention. On a bright note, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) notes that the dental community as a whole has already been doing a great job at protecting patients from the virus because of state-of-the-art infection control practices that were in place long before this outbreak.
While we are temporarily closed for two weeks that started on March 19th, we want our patients to get a better understanding of our approach.
A Closer Look at COVID-19
Symptoms of coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19, typically appear 2-14 days after exposure and include shortness of breath, fever and cough. Coughing or sneezing are the two primary ways that the virus is being transferred. It’s important to note that the seasonal flu has many of the same symptoms, so if you have access to a test, take advantage of doing so.
General Recommendations to the Public
The CDC recommends washing your hands often and for at least 20 seconds at a time. You should opt for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol if you don’t have access to soap and water. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and stay home from work when you are feeling sick. Disinfect your phone, computer and other areas that you touch often.
Your Safety is Our Top Priority
Our team at Chicago Beautiful Smiles always puts our patients first. Trust that our practice is doing everything that we can to ensure patients return to a clean, sterile office environment. We have reviewed the best health practices with our staff to ensure they are continuing to implement these precautions. Infection control in addition to our standard health procedures is a great way to ward off the virus.
We aim to stay proactive and calm to continue providing our patients with the highest-quality dental services in Wilmette and surrounding areas.
