El Paso dentists take extra precautions for patient visits during pandemic
EL PASO, Texas -- As dental offices begin reopening in many states during the coronavirus pandemic many might be wondering if it’s safe to go see your dentist or if you should hold off on the visit.
Dr. Daniel Castro, a west El Paso dentist, is trying to assure his patients that their safety is something he and his employees are taking seriously.
“Our goal is to make sure that patients understand the importance of taking care of their dental needs to keep things from getting worse," said Dr. Castro.
Dr. Castro has been a certified dentist in the El Paso area for more than 20 years now. He is no stranger to keeping his office clean on an everyday basis.
"We are used to sterilizing. We are used to wearing masks. We are used to wearing eye gear and gloves. It’s not gonna be a big adjustment to us. Yes, some of the things have become a little more cumbersome but again it’s a minor adjustment and it’s all worth it for the safety of our patients and ourselves,” said Dr. Castro.
However, there are a few out of the ordinary steps Dr. Castro and his staff are doing to stay safe during this pandemic. The first step begins with a patient screening over the phone.
"We ask the patients questions over the phone. We talk to them about certain things and prepare them for the visit here,” said Dr. Castro.
When a patient arrives to the dentist office they are asked to wait in their cars until a staff member takes their temperature outside.
Once they are comfortable with the parameters and guidelines made by Dr. Castro and his team, they enter the dentist office wearing their masks.
"We require them to wear their mask on until their ready,” said Dr. Castro.
The waiting room is not open to patients unless they arrived in public transportation. In that case, social distancing measurements are put in place.
“I think it’s important for patients to feel comfortable and they should feel comfortable and ask questions and make sure that they are being taken care of in a place that is safe and comfortable,” said Dr. Castro.
