COVID-19 Reopening May 18th

As Allegheny County moves into the yellow phase, South Hills Dental Arts will be reopening its doors to serve patients in-person for non-emergency appointments on May 18th. As we transition into the yellow phase, we will be implementing protocols as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as well as other measures we’ve decided to take to ensure we can safely and efficiently serve our patients.

Measures We Are Taking to Keep Our Patients Safe

At South Hill Dental Arts, we understand that regular dental visits are an essential part of your oral hygiene and are also crucial to your overall health. To keep you safe at your next appointment, we have implemented:

• Secondary Suction Units- During treatment with tools such as ultrasonics and air polishers, it is easy for bacteria and viruses to spread through the splatter and aerosols that these treatments produce. To prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria, we will be using secondary suction units that will control the aerosol particles before they can leave the mouth and spread disease.
• Hypochlorous Acid- We will be using this natural, non-toxic, and effective biocide to disinfect as a spray and fog to disinfect our entire office, surfaces, as well as on team members when they leave treatment rooms and patients hands and feet.
• Ozonator- Ozone generators make ozone from normal air to be used as a room disinfectant. We will run ozonators overnight to ensure viruses and bacteria are eliminated.
• Increased PPE- We will be increasing our PPE from what we normally wear to include gowns, face shields, and n95 or equivalent masks to create an extra layer of protection for patients and staff.

What to Expect at Your Dental Appointment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the yellow phase, Pennsylvania still requires people to wear masks in public, so be sure to wear a mask to your appointment. When you enter our office, you may notice that we have removed things from the waiting room that people often touch, such as magazines or children’s toys. Sanitizer will also be available for your use, and social distancing will be practiced within the office. Our staff will be working to keep waiting areas, and items such as pens and clipboards disinfected as well.

During your appointment, you will notice that your dentist is wearing increased PPE to protect your health as well as their own. After you are finished with your appointment, our staff will thoroughly clean the areas you were in using disinfectants that are proven to be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 to safely prepare for the next patient, reducing the risk of the spreading illness to others.

It is recommended if you start to feel ill with COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of your dental appointment, be sure to contact our office. This could mean that you were carrying the virus at the time of your appointment, putting anyone you came into contact with at risk.

If you have any questions about your appointment or you need to schedule an appointment, contact South Hills Dental Arts today!