Is It Safe to Schedule an Orthodontic Appointment Now?

Long Beach, CA – The COVID-19 pandemic saw our world come to a halt – schools and businesses closed while experts learned more about the pandemic and how to help stop its spread. But as we have begun opening things back up again, people are probably wondering if it is safe to begin going back to normal activities. Is it safe, for instance, to schedule an orthodontic appointment now?

HD Orthodontics is proud to offer exceptional care to our patients, and we work hard every day to ensure a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for our patients of all ages. We have always made our patients’ health and safety our number one priority, but that is even more so now.

While we know that social distancing is the best way to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, it is safe to schedule visits at our office. HD Orthodontics is taking every precaution available to ensure the health and safety of our patients. And, according to an NPR article, there have been no known links of COVID-19 cases associated with dental or orthodontic visits. 

Our office has always followed strict infection control practices, as laid out by the California Department of Public Health (CADPH), American Dental Association (ADA), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Healthy Administration (OSHA).

As protocols change and we continue to learn more about the novel coronavirus, we stay up-to-date on the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations to ensure we are following them all. As of now, the CDC recommends the following:

• Implement teledentistry and triage screening to ensure only healthy patients are in the office. 
• Use teledentistry options as an alternative to in-patient care for patients who are ideal candidates. 
• Limit the number of people accompanying the patient to only those necessary for the appointment. 
• Ensuring patients, and anyone accompanying them, wear a proper face covering while in the facility and screen everyone entering the building for fever and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
• Install visual alerts to explain proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and respiratory hygiene.
• Remove any toys, magazines or other frequently touched items in the reception area.
• If a patient has a fever or has signs/symptoms consistent with COVID-19, that patient must be sent home immediately. The appointment should be postponed until the patient has received a negative test or has followed proper quarantine protocol. 
• Scheduling appointments to allow for proper social distancing and to minimize the number of people waiting at any given time.
• Keep out only the clean and sterile supplies needed for the current patient and ensure all others are properly stored way to prevent aerosol contamination. 
• All orthodontic staff should wear a surgical mask, eye protection (goggles or a face shield that covers the front and sides of the face), a gown or protective clothing, and gloves.
• All surfaces in the front and back office are disinfected regularly throughout the day.

We know that everyone is anxious to get back to life as normal, but in order to ensure we can do that, we must continue to carefully follow all guidelines provided by the CDC, national, state and local officials. We are doing our part to ensure we can provide exceptional care, while also keeping you safe. Alternatively, we are also available via virtual consultations on our website. Simply visit us at www.hdorthodontics.com to learn more.