Dentist offices will have new safety measures in place when reopening

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — You’ll be seeing a host of new protocols before you hop into the dentist’s chair when offices reopen.

They’re part of guidelines just released by the American Dental Association.

Dr. Tommy Dorsey with Colonial Drive Family Dentistry said tele-dentistry will only continue to grow as a way to quickly assess dental emergencies, and keep patients out of hospital emergency rooms that can’t treat them.

Dorsey has been connecting with patients in need of immediate care in the past six weeks of COVID-19 via teleconferences.

“It truly gives you a platform to connect with them and see what their urgent needs are and what' most important to them,” he said.

A virtual consult is just one component of post-COVID-19 dental care. Social distancing, checking in from your car to limit patient interaction, COVID-19 pre-screening questions and a temperature check will also happen before you’re cleared for screening.

That will also apply to staff, along with enhanced PPE.

Last week, the Florida Dental Association proposed adding rapid COVID-19 testing to the list.

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