While vaccinations eased the severity of the Covid crisis, they did not eliminate it. And in the past few months, the Delta variant has boosted infection rates around the country. The American Dental Association (ADA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) have released safety guidelines for dental practices in response. Their recommendations–including continued masking and social distancing–will help keep all staff and patients safe.
If you’re looking for professional and family-friendly dentistry services near Reston, VA, come to Smile Reston Heights. We are the region’s top provider of general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry treatments as well as its certified Invisalign provider. With flexible scheduling options and friendly staff, we aim to help you achieve your best smile. Plus, to make treatment affordable for all, we offer an interest-free office payment plan. Don’t just wish for clean, healthy teeth—contact us or book an appointment online to get the smile you deserve!
Below, we discuss some common concerns about the Delta variant and the steps we’re taking to combat its spread:
What is the Delta Variant? How Does its Presence Affect You?
First and foremost, let’s clarify what “the Delta variant” refers to. Variants are natural mutations of viruses—like all living things, viruses mutate over time in response to circumstances. While many virus variants die off without incident, some become more dangerous than the original strain.
The CDC and other health organizations maintain a variants of concern list, on which the Delta variant appeared months ago. This variant became a top concern over the summer due to its extreme transmissibility and potential for dangerous consequences. Indeed, most new infections in the US are due to the Delta variant.
As more people have become infected, governments and organizations have reinstituted safety measures. These include indoor mask mandates, social distancing, and vaccine requirements. In the same spirit, our office has enacted safety protocols.
How We Are Minimizing the Risk of Infections During Dental Visits
Our prior Covid quarantine guidelines outlined procedures for all individuals who entered the office: dentists, support staff, administration, and patients. We’ve now pulled these practices back into use, as recommended by the ADA and CDC.
Our dentists work in protective gear, including gloves, gowns, surgical masks, and face shields. The assistants and support staff for the dentists follow the same procedures. Plus, any unnecessary equipment for a given treatment is stored safely away.
Administrative staff also wear protective gear, and they help patients practice safety measures: social distancing, wearing masks inside, and so on. Moreover, we stagger patients’ arrival and exit times to avoid overlap. Finally, all patients and employees are screened for Covid symptoms upon arrival to the office.
Further Steps You Can Take
Even with all our safety measures in place, many patients still want further measures to protect their health. If you feel the same way, we have a few suggestions:
- Get fully vaccinated as soon as you can. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself (and, by extension, others) against Covid and its variants.
- Practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently outside of our office. You should also avoid crowded areas where people gather near one another.
- If you feel unwell in the days leading up to your appointment, either cancel or reschedule it. Whether you have Covid or not, doing so protects our staff.
- Finally, ask about our teledentistry options, particularly our virtual Invisalign treatment. If your visit can be completed through a video chat, you can reduce your chances of exposure.
A Professional and Experienced Dental Practice in Reston, VA
While our country continues to fight Covid and its variants, we must all remain vigilant to prevent the disease’s spread. You can rely on Smile Reston Heights to institute safe dental practices, protecting your and your family’s health. Our team wants to help you achieve your best smile with general, cosmetic, and restorative treatments while maintaining your overall health. If you’re interested, call us today at (703) 345-1100 or book a dental appointment online.