We are all hearing a lot of conflicting information about what does and doesn’t help to keep us safe while we’re navigating the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. When it comes to visiting the dental office, pre-rinses have come under some scrutiny. You can find almost as many seemingly reputable sources supporting and opposing the use of pre-rinses. At McCarl Dental Group in Greenbelt, we’ve always included a pre-rinse as part of our preventive dental exam routine, and we haven’t stopped doing this in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we changed to a pre-rinse product that exceeds the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this blog, you can learn more about the oral rinse we’re using, but don’t hesitate to call to chat with one of our team members if you have questions.
ADA & CDC Recommendations
On March 12, 2020 (very early in the COVID-19 pandemic), the ADA and CDC were already recommending the use of pre-rinses when treating patients who needed to come into the office for treatment. Specifically, the ADA and CDC recommended the use of 1% hydrogen peroxide mouth rinse. These products are proven effective in removing enveloped viruses like COVID-19. Enveloped viruses, as you may guess based on the name, are encased in a plasma membrane. These plasma membrane envelopes both protect the virus cells and increase their chances for fusing with the host (you and me). There are specific hygiene and cleaning products and processes that are more effective in removing these enveloped viruses. Hydrogen peroxide solutions are among those that are recommended.
Our Pre-Rinse Product
Ad McCarl Dental Group, we have always utilized a pre-rinse solution to help prepare our patients for their dental appointments. These rinses are proven to remove surface level bacteria and other buildup from teeth, which makes our job a little easier whether we’re offering treatments or performing checkups. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve incorporated a 1.5% hydrogen peroxide pre-rinse solution, which exceeds the ADA and CDC recommended minimum guidelines. Additionally, we have met or exceeded all other safety standards, including incorporating air purifiers, increasing our personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols, using new PPE for each patient, and investing in state-of-the-art aerosol minimizing Isolite systems for treatment. In short, the McCarl Dental Group team is continuing to go the extra mile to keep our patients safe, healthy, and happy.
Meet the McCarl Dental Group Team
When you’re ready to come back to the office, we can’t wait to see you. The dentists and caring team members at the McCarl Dental Group in Greenbelt, MD are truly taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our patients, employees, and community. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, we look forward to hearing from you.