Our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

Safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Our highest priority is to keep our patients and staff safe and healthy, while also promoting the safety and health of our community. Lewis Estates Dental Centre has adopted disinfection protocols that exceed all Provincial and National health guidelines in addition to the guidelines of the Alberta Dental Association & College:

• On arrival, we ask that patients text to notify us of your arrival. When they are asked to enter the facility, do so wearing a mask.
• All patients and accompanying visitors will be screened for COVID-19. They will complete a COVID-19 status questionnaire, and having their temperature taken.
• Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, equipment, and the floors of treatment rooms after every patient appointment. This is for infection control and prevention of cross-contamination.
• We will clean and disinfect all high touch surfaces in the facility once per hour including tables, chair arms, door-handles and all other surfaces or objects which patients might touch. We also use medical grade UVC light technology for disinfection of treatment rooms, and air purification.
• Hand sanitization stations are set up at multiple areas in our reception. Patients and guests must use hand sanitizer on entry into the facility, if they touch a surface in the facility, and when they leave the premises.
• Chairs are marked for use in order to maintain physical distancing. Please be seated only where indicated. To reduce potential cross-contamination, toys and reading materials have been removed from our reception area.

Since 2012, Lewis Estates Dental Centre has taken extra precautions for disinfection, sterilization and patient care. Over the course of 8+ years, we have instituted policies that have gone above and beyond current guidelines for a better, safer experience. In light of the changed guidelines we have added additional precautions including:

• Taking your temperature upon arrival. Also checking blood pressure upon arrival.
• Encouraging all patients to use proper etiquette by coughing or sneezing into the crook of their elbow and not on their hands. We also recommend carrying facial tissues with you.
• Not provide treatment if you come into the office and are presenting symptoms of COVID-19. You will be asked to return home and take the self-assessment online tool from Alberta Health Services.
  • This is not meant to inconvenience our patients, but to reduce community transmission of COVID-19. We will assist patients with symptoms of COVID-19 with obtaining care in a more suitable environment if absolutely necessary, or recommend that they defer dental care until symptoms have resolved.
• All of our treatment rooms are private, fully enclosed rooms for greater patient safety. Separate rooms add another layer of safety.
• Wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment at all times, including heavy-duty respirators, faceshields, and gowns.
• Asking patients to perform an oral rinse with an antiseptic prior to starting treatment. We also use high capacity suctioning devices to prevent the escape of aerosols generated during dental treatment.
• Continuing to use air purification systems with UVC light to ensure surgically clean air, frequent cycling of air with air particle sensors in place. Adjusting our payment system to include touchless technology.

More on our air purification system

Surgically Clean Air’s medical-grade purifiers use multi-stage air purifying technologies that work together to clean, purify and re-energize the indoor air. The six (6) stage filtration system captures:

• dust particles
• pollen
• volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)
• gases
• mold
• allergens
• viruses
• odors (like formaldehyde and smoke)
• bio-aerosols
• and many other pollutants that are found inside workspaces

The negative ion generator makes indoor feel more pure, clean and energized to help combat fatigue. For an air purifier to deliver its benefits throughout the indoor space it needs to move large volumes of air through its filtration system effectively without impacting those people that are closest to it or being too loud.

Lewis Estates Dental Centre will stringently follow the guidelines outlined above in our commitment to the safe delivery of dental services to our community.