How Can Dentists Use Plastics to Protect Patients?

In this era of COVID-19, protecting patients is more crucial than ever. Although patients may come into the facility for services wearing a mask, what happens when it’s time for them to sit in the chair? There are a few things dental offices and dentists can do to protect themselves and their patients, such as wearing plastic face shields.

What are plastic face shields?

Plastic face shields help provide barriers between the dentist and patient. Although the actual face shield is made of plastic, these shields are designed to prevent the spread of infection. They are cleaned and disinfected on a continuous basis to maintain the integrity of the shield.

Face shields are a good solution for dentists because they don’t have to be touched while working with the patient. Additionally, they don’t itch like face masks do, which also works as a preventative measure against touching the face. Tru-Form Plastics are a leader in this area.

What’s so special about Tru-Form Plastics?

Tru-Form face shields are lightweight, allowing consistent motion and the ability to see multiple patients at a time. The face shield does not fog, and the smaller foam pad adds an additional layer of ventilation. Tru-Form’s plastic is also more than twice as thick as other face shields on the market, creating a more durable shield to work with. The shields come in 3 different options: standard, deluxe, and industrial.

These shields are constructed with PETG material, mentioned as one of the best materials for face shields by the FDA. PETG does not break down in UV light, providing a much longer shelf life than shields made with PVC or other materials. Tru-Form Plastics uses the thermoforming process, which is heating a thermoplastic sheet until it is soft enough to stretch over a mold where it cools and solidifies into a desired shape for use.

How are diseases and infections transferred in a dental office?

There are a number of ways diseases and infections can be transferred. This includes by direct contact or droplets of blood and saliva. Additionally, if tools and areas touched by the dental professionals are not properly sanitized, this increases the likelihood of infection.

Safety is the first priority

Using plastics in dental offices helps reduces the risk of exposure, transference of germs and infection for employees and patients. Barriers, or Sani-Shields work to protect office workers while remaining compliant with social distancing guidelines where high traffic is the norm. Lightweight and easy to install, each shield is customizable.

Face shields are for protection against spray and splatter without interfering with line of sight. Additionally, face shields should be large enough to protect the face and head. Since these are reused, proper care and cleaning procedures should be implemented. This involves using surface disinfectant wipes and other solutions approved by the manufacturer.

Dental health workers are deemed high risk, so proper PPE is key. That means covering all dental tools and disinfecting them on a continuous basis. This may also involve keeping them in protective covers until used. Cleaning face shields away from patients will also help in alleviating the spread of germs.

To find out more about how Tru-Form Plastics can be beneficial in protecting your dental office, contact our team today!