Some Florida dentists are working to convince the public it's safe to visit amid the pandemic, with industry reports indicating business remains down from last year for many practices statewide, according to The Palm Beach Post.
What four Florida dentists are doing to reassure patients:
1. Michael Starr, DMD, said business has decreased about 15 percent, but that's mostly by design. Dr. Starr sees fewer patients to allow for social distancing in the office and give hygienists more time to treat each patient and sterilize equipment. Family dentistry volume is steady, but regular hygiene visits are lagging, Dr. Starr said.
2. Gerard Cuomo, DDS, bought five portable air filtration devices and a Swiss air purifier that sucks out microscopic airborne materials from patients' mouths. Due to a prior back injury that made it difficult to bend, Dr. Cuomo developed a special microscope that creates additional separation between him and his patients.
3. Mitchell Josephs, DDS, said he has three devices that remove airborne particles from a patient's mouth. "They're $3,000 a pop," Dr. Josephs said. Although the units are expensive, it boosts patients' confidence, according to Dr. Josephs. "Even if in six months COVID is wiped out, why not use them during cold and flu season?"
4. Pareen Dholoo, DDS, purchased air purifiers, and her staff frequently calls patients to inform them of the office's infection control procedures. Dr. Dholoo, who works with mostly elderly patients, said business "is not back to normal," with only about half returning for routine dental care.