While New York has turned a corner in the fight against COVID-19, we’re all still taking as many precautions as possible to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities. Part of taking care of ourselves is continuing to have preventive health care, like routine dental check-ups. Our team here at Jessica Pandich, DDS, in Midtown Manhattan, is doing everything we can to serve your needs and keep you safe.
We follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-9. We aim to minimize the risk for you, our other patients, and staff to avoid spreading coronavirus.
Let’s review what we know about COVID-19 and how we’re doing our part.
About COVID-19
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19. This novel respiratory illness is extremely contagious. It spreads through droplets that move through the air. For example, when a person who has the virus coughs, sneezes, or talks, they spray droplets into the air around them.
COVID-19 infected droplets can enter your body through your eyes, nose, and mouth. Your risk is higher when you’re within six feet of an infected person. You can also come into contact with the virus by touching a contaminated surface and then rubbing your eyes or face, although is less common.
The COVID-19 virus causes various upper respiratory symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These respiratory symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Some people have less typical symptoms, while others have no symptoms at all — in all cases, anyone who has the infection can still spread it to others.
What we’re doing to protect you
We have always been committed to high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, and now, we’re even more vigilant now. We clean the public areas regularly, using a disinfectant fogger at least three times a day. Our chairs have easily sanitized covers.
We also require all staff to wear masks. We also ask you to wear a mask while you’re not receiving care.
Additionally, our team thoroughly cleans and disinfects all surfaces in the treatment room after every patient’s appointment. As usual, we carefully clean and sterilize the dental instruments used during routine cleanings, check-ups, and dental repairs.
We offer staggered appointment times and limit the number of people in the office at the same time to protect all of us.
What you can do to protect yourself and others
You can do your part to protect yourself and minimize the spread of the virus.
Reschedule if you have symptoms
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, like fever, shortness of breath, or a dry cough, it would be best to reschedule your dental appointment.
You should also avoid in-office appointments if you think you might have been exposed to the virus at home, at work, or anywhere else.
Don’t ignore at-home oral hygiene
If you need to reschedule or delay routine dental care, your at-home oral hygiene is more critical than ever. Brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day and flossing your teeth at least once can slow the buildup of bacteria and plaque. Daily at-home dental hygiene helps keep your teeth in good shape until you can come into the office again.
You can still have dental check-ups
If you or a member of your family is due for a professional cleaning or check-up, you can still come into our Midtown office for expert, gentle dental care. That said, we understand if you choose to delay your appointment. However, if we all continue to take precautions, you can safely have dental check-ups and treatments to protect your oral health.
We appreciate your patience as we take steps to protect you and our team. If you need to schedule an appointment or have a dental emergency, you can contact us calling the office or book online.