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You have probably heard the phrase “unprecedented times” a lot in the past few months. It describes how we feel about COVID-19. We haven’t ever dealt with a global pandemic in our lifetimes, so we don’t know what to expect. Our uncertainty affects everything, from determining whether to cancel our vacation over the holidays this year (probably) to worrying how distance learning will go at school next month (who knows?) to deciding if it’s safe to go to a birthday party with a few close friends (probably not).

The COVID-19 Pandemic even affects how we feel about being in the orthodontic office. However, with a few changes and some precautions, we can ensure that you get the modern orthodontic treatment you need safely here at Bloom Orthodontics in Long Beach. Here are a few things you should know about orthodontics in the days of COVID-19.

It’s all about aerosols. 

As you might know, the droplets emitted by an infected individual when they breathe, talk, or sing contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus. When these tiny droplets make their way into a healthy person at a high enough concentration, the virus can take hold in a new host, begin replicating itself, and cause an infection. 

Regular dental visits create aerosols. 

Your regular dentist’s office cleans your teeth and often delivers restorative work (e.g., fillings, crowns, root canals, etc.) that create Aerosols from the mouth that could contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a result, these practices have been taking extra precautions to keep their teams and patients safe during the pandemic and minimizing unnecessary dental care or treatments that create many aerosols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Orthodontic treatments create fewer aerosols than some other dental procedures.

The nature of what we do at an orthodontics office creates fewer aerosols than the activities of other types of dental visits. Nevertheless, we are working in patient’s mouths and do produce some aerosols, so, as a result, we take precautions to minimize any spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in our practice. 

We have extended our infection control policies to protect you against COVID-19.  

As a dental practice, we know how to handle infection control. We have extended our protocols to meet the standards of the CDC and public health guidelines regarding COVID-19. This effort includes increasing our use of personal protective equipment (PPE), expanding the types of PPE we wear, and intensifying our cleaning efforts throughout the office surfaces, including bathrooms and waiting areas. When performing procedures that create aerosols, we manage our schedule to do those at certain times of the day and with only that patient present. We also practice social distancing throughout the day and have limited the number of patients in the practice at one time.  In addition, we have incorporated optimal hand hygiene, controlled aerosols as much as possible, and run appropriate ventilation in our operatories. Finally, we screen patients for potential exposure or infection before providing treatment.

Our team is well-trained to keep you safe. 

When the pandemic began, we established our process to keep our teams safe and prevent them from transmitting the virus. We agreed that anyone who feels sick or been in contact with someone who is ill would stay home and self-quarantine. Also, we allowed some team members to work virtually, which reduced the number of people in the office. 

We are always available for emergencies. 

If you have a problem with your orthodontic appliance, we are here for you. Whether it is causing pain or discomfort or the device has broken, we must correct it to keep your treatment on track. If you are unsure if what you are experiencing is an emergency, call us, and we’ll figure it out together.  

These times are unprecedented for all of us. However, taking care of our patients, providing a safe and clean environment to deliver excellent and modern orthodontic treatment, and promoting outstanding infection control protocols is something we have always done here at Bloom Orthodontics, and will continue to do throughout the crisis. We feel confident that once we get to the other side of this pandemic, we will all have something to smile about. 

And your smile or the smile of someone you love will be even healthier and more beautiful by then, too.  

To schedule your free consultation today, call Bloom Orthodontics office in Long Beach at 562-421-8883.

Bloom Orthodontics in Long Beach has a long history of improving our patients’ smiles. We provide modern orthodontic treatments delivered with old-fashioned excellence in patient experience. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

COMING SOON: Bloom Orthodontics in Garden Grove.

Sources:

“COVID-19 Management in the Ortho Practice: FAQ.” www.aaoinfor.org. Web. 12 August 2020. https://www1.aaoinfo.org/covid-19/covid-19-management-in-the-ortho-practice-faq/>.