Should your patients express concern, here are some suggested talking points:

• I’m glad you asked me about this because I want to assure you that in my dental practice, we follow stringent infection control procedures. Also, as your doctor, I would only delegate procedures to my staff that they are licensed or qualified to perform per state regulations.

• I would never delegate procedures to make sure only duly trained or licensed concerning who performs and we make sure that. I care about my patients and your health and safety are my foremost priorities.

• Studies show that following proper infection control procedures greatly reduces risk to patients to the point of an extremely remote possibility.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed special recommendations for use in dental offices.

• Let me describe just a few of the things that we do in my practice in terms of infection control:

• All dental staff involved in patient care scrub their hands before each and every patient and use appropriate protective garb such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear.

• A new set of gloves and masks are used for each patient.

• Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, instrument tray, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and decontaminated.

• Non-disposable dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients. In my office we sterilize instruments using [DESCRIBE WHETHER YOU USE AN AUTOCLAVE WHICH INVOLVES STEAM UNDER PRESSURE, DRY HEAT OR CHEMICAL STERILIZATION. IF YOU WISH, YOU COULD OFFER TO SHOW YOUR PATIENTS YOUR STERILIZATION OR SET-UP AREA]

• Disposable items like needles or gauze are placed in special bags or containers for special, monitored disposal.

• Your well-being is important to me and my staff, which is why we follow stringent infection control procedures and comply with all state regulations for the protection of patients.​