620 Pandemic Pack Feature - v3 - FINAL_Pages 6 / 10 / 20 12 : 54 PM Page 15 PUSHING FORWARD C O N T I N U E S all of the precautions his office has put guidelines set forth by organizations like into effect . He believes it is the right time the ADA , NJDA , Centers for Disease Con - But with so many people out of work to get back to work . trol and Prevention , and Occupational due to the pandemic , Gilbert understands “ The biggest issue with orthodontics Safety and Health Administration . Some that means a loss of dental insurance . and the closures is that patients with of the common measures include a pre - “ People have to put food on the table braces or aligners were going two or three appointment questionnaire related to and take care of other things like mortgages months without going to the office , ” he COVID - 19 exposure ; the elimination of and car payments . At that point , dentistry says . “ Treatment is ongoing and it takes waiting rooms , with patients remaining ends up being something that can wait two years to finish up or a year to finish in their cars until it’s time to be seen ; for them . ” up , so closing the offices and not providing electronic paperwork ; temperature checks ; Although that is not the case for Eddie service to the patient , in my opinion , is mandatory face coverings for patients Boaté of East Greenwich . Though he is almost unethical . ” before and after treatment ; hand washing ; still PPE and other protective equipment for working , he’s decided to hold off on staff ; and increased sanitation of exam his next visit to the dentist anyway . He rooms . was scheduled for a regular cleaning about Kadar hired a national consultant , a month ago and is waiting to set a new Jackie Dorst , to put his practice’s infectious date . control system in place and go over every “ I’m not super concerned about it , possible scenario . He credits his staff and because I’m sure they’re going to be care - patients with helping the process go ful , ” he says . “ But dentists are hovering IF YOU DON’T ADAPT , smoothly . around your face and digging into your “ If you don’t adapt , you won’t mouth . I get a cleaning every six months , be able YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO so if it ends up being nine months or a to survive , so we’re adapting , ” he says . “ SURVIVE , SO WE’RE year , it’s not the end of the world . I’m still “ [ Our office ] is still a very safe place to brushing my teeth and flossing . I think be . Everything is sterilized , everything is ADAPTING . . . [ OUR everything needs to open back up , but wiped down . I think it’s way safer than that’s not my top priority . I’ll probably walking through a grocery store where OFFICE ] IS STILL A VERY get my hair cut before I get to the den - everybody is touching everything . tist . ” “ My team is really amazing and they SAFE PLACE TO BE . Wendy Nayeli of Voorhees has similar have bailed us out tremendously . They’re thoughts about the nature of a dental putting in extra hours and being flexible , EVERYTHING IS STERIL - knowing that we’re dealing with an visit . She is also questioning when to unprecedented tragedy . The patients have schedule the next appointment for her IZED , EVERYTHING IS been awesome too . They understand that son , a sophomore - to - be at Eastern WIPED DOWN . I THINK we’re doing everything we can . We’re all Regional High School . dealing with it and we’re going to come “ It’s a little uncomfortable because IT’S WAY SAFER THAN out better for it . ” they’re literally working right on top of Childers cites studies published in you , ” she says . “ If I had a toothache or WALKING THROUGH A China , Italy and Germany on post - mortem something , I would go . But if I can hold coronavirus patients that show the port off a little longer to get my cleaning , I GROCERY STORE WHERE of entry for the virus is in the salivary will . glands , rather than the lungs as first “ I was told that you can’t even go in EVERYBODY IS TOUCHING believed . “ Consequently , when with your kids . [ My son ] usually gets his a patient EVERYTHING . ” regular cleaning in July but I haven’t comes into my office I have them rinse scheduled it yet . We used to go once a with a solution that decreases the viral — Dr . Thomas Kadar month for his braces , but he got them off load in the mouth , so even if they were in December so I’m glad he’s done with exposed … they can shed the virus , ” he that . ” says . Childers also has his staff members On the employer side , there is concern THE NEXT STEPS change into different shoes when they that some practices will not be able to Gilbert believes the new guidelines will arrive for work , and he brings a change survive , with the rising expenses for safety be in place for some time , probably until of clothes every day while keeping his a vaccine for COVID - 19 is available . He scrubs in the office for the week . “ Every - rotocols combining with fewer patients . p thinks some patients who take good care thing I’ve done is for the safety of my “ It takes a lot to invest in the safety and of their teeth might wait another month patients , the safety of my staff and for you really have to evaluate where you are my safety as well . ” in your profession and if you’re going to r two until deciding to come back for a o Gilbert also has concerns for his be able to make it , ” Childers says . regular visit , but others don’t have that employees and is operating with a limited Needless to say , the quicker things luxury . staff for the first few weeks of reopening . return to normal , the better it will be for “ If they have decay , it can progress Because of the dangers of dental aerosols , dentists and patients . “ Dentistry is going and they’ll end up needing root canals hygienists are utilizing more hand scaling to have a very slow comeback , ” Gilbert and / or extractions , ” he says . “ If they go a while reducing the use of ultrasonic hand says . “ It’s going to be gradual , like the soft year without getting their teeth cleaned , cleaners . opening of a restaurant . We’ll see how that can lead to periodontal disease , which Since things go week by week and adjust what can lead to loss of teeth and can also lead there are no aerosols in orthodon - we’re doing . ” to heart disease . ” tics , Saffar is comfortable reopening with SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 17 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 37