No Scrubs: Why You Won’t Be Seeing Your Dentist in Work Attire Outside the Office

In the past, it was not uncommon to see your child’s pediatric dentist in Coppell, TX, wearing their scrubs while out grocery shopping or at dinner immediately after work. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has caused many dental professionals to let go of what was once considered “normal” and instead, adopt new protocols to keep everyone safe from possible exposure. Spend some time reviewing the following information to find out why you’ll no longer be seeing your child’s dentist in their scrubs outside of work.

What You Don’t Know About Scrubs

According to a 2017 study published in the “Open Forum Infectious Diseases,” researchers found that scrubs or “healthcare worker clothing” can easily spread harmful pathogens from patient-to-patient. With at least 30% of bacteria living on these forms of personal clothing, they must be removed with gloves to prevent contaminating the healthcare workers’ hands, especially if treating an individual is who is displaying symptoms related to COVID-19.

Because the virus is a highly infectious disease that can be easily transmitted, especially in a setting that requires close proximity between patients and staff, you will find that your child’s dentist is taking additional precautions to ensure there is a reduced risk of cross-contamination or possibly exposing your little one to harmful pathogens.

Keeping It In-House: Why Scrubs Are Only Worn While at Work

Abiding by the recommend guidelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA), your child’s pediatric dentist is no longer allowing staff, including themselves, to wear their dental scrubs outside the office. Instead, they are to change into their work clothes when they arrive and change out before they leave.

It is also necessary that all dental staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE), one of which is a disposable gown. This added layer of protection keeps team members better protected, especially when performing any type of aerosol-generating procedure that results in splashes and spattering of bodily fluids (i.e. blood, saliva).

What makes these gowns so beneficial is that they are designed to be used only once, so they are easily disposed of after providing care to every patient. This makes them a much more desirable form of PPE as opposed to reusable lab coats that must be laundered. Not only is this more time-consuming, but they are considerably more costly when attempting to follow the necessary health and safety protocols.

When preparing to bring your child back for preventive services or elective treatments, make sure to talk to your little one about the changes they may see when they arrive. Although your child’s dentist may look a bit different because of the added layers of protection they’ll be wearing, you and your child can feel confident that they will still receive the highest level of quality care in a safe and healthy environment.

About the Author
Dr. Melissa Rozas is a pediatric dentist in Coppell, TX, who completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston. After finishing her pediatric dental residency at UT/Herman Hospital, she became board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Although her practice has been closed to seeing patients for regular preventive care, she and her team are now available to see young smiles of all types once again. Additional precautions are now in place to better protect both staff and patients, so if you want to learn more about what measures we are taking to keep you and your little one safe, contact us at (972) 393-9779.