By Marie T. Fluent, DDS
2020 was the year that gatherings and events went virtual, and – at least for the immediate foreseeable future – it looks like there’s more of the same this year. You are essential, and we’ve been continually looking for ways to adapt to this new reality to serve you.
The only constant in life is change, but change can be scary. It can also be exhilarating if you make a change for the right reason at the right time. At this time last year, Hu-Friedy and Crosstex were coming together for the first time as the Dental Division of Cantel Medical. Then, at the 2020 Chicago Midwinter Meeting, we announced the new HuFriedyGroup name and identity, reflecting our expanded promise to dental professionals around the globe.
Who could have predicted that 2020 would turn out like this? At the beginning of the year, none of us expected that the global spread of a dangerous disease would upend how we live, how we relate to each other, and how we work.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering reminder that as dental healthcare professionals, we all play an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. While infection prevention has long been a cornerstone of clinical theory and practice, the ongoing pandemic has undoubtedly raised the profile on infection prevention policies among clinicians and patients alike.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a patient, at this stage, pretty much everyone knows what an N95 respirator is, but many may not realize there are still common myths and misconceptions about using this PPE. If you or your staff are using N95 respirators, it is highly important to ensure that there is a proper respiratory protection program in place.
As we learn more about how COVID-19 is transmitted, dental practice guidelines are evolving. The U.S.
Nancy Miller, RDH, recalls not wearing masks or gloves in the days before HIV emerged as a deadly pathogen. Just as HIV brought attention to bloodborne pathogens, COVID-19 has aimed a spotlight on airborne pathogens in the dental office. Dental aerosols are primarily created by high-speed handpieces and ultrasonic scalers, air/water syringe tips, and air abrasion devices.
We asked Dr. Roger Levin of the Levin Group, dentistry's leading practice management and marketing consulting firm, to join our blog as a guest author for a two-part question-and-answer series exploring the realities of practice management in the COVID-19 world. Check out Part Two below for Roger’s advice for navigating changes to the dental team and proactively communicating with patients.
As dental offices continue to adapt to heightened infection prevention concerns, there is still a lot of uncertainty about what works and what doesn’t. These doubts make it difficult to know whether the steps you are taking are worth it. But what if we told you that there is an existing solution in the market – one with 95-percent satisfaction among surveyed users* – that can help you provide a safe, efficient, and more compliant practice environment for both patients and staff?
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