With the coronavirus spreading so rapidly, it’s only a matter of time before your area is affected. When it is, have you thought about how your dental practice is going to deal with it? Are you better off continuing to run your business and treat patients? Or is it best to close your doors and wait until the outbreak is under control?

With coronavirus cases and deaths rising by the hour, it’s only natural that patients will be extremely concerned about having dental work done at this time. While we recommend delaying non-urgent treatments, some patients might consider postponing treatment they really need until the pandemic is under control. This could result in your patients suffering intense pain and ultimately creating bigger problems for themselves in the future.

The disease is spreading throughout the country and if it can’t be effectively contained soon, it’s possible some people will be advised or even forced to self-quarantine or self-isolate. While this is a powerful combat tactic, it could result in big staffing problems for business owners.

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization, the mortality rate for the coronavirus is currently 3.4%. The disease has already killed more than 6,100 people and if it continues to escalate, the consequences could be devastating for everyone. 

Taking appropriate action to protect yourself against infections in the dental practice is essential. Especially during a global outbreak. One of the most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). This includes gloves, impermeable smock, protective eyewear and medical/surgical mask. But what do you do when you can’t get the supplies you need to protect yourself?

There are many ways to control the spread of infection, but one of the most effective is immunization. According to WHO, vaccines prevent 2-3 million deaths every year from potentially deadly diseases such as diphtheria, measles and influenza. As of March 3rd 2020, COVID-19 has a mortality rate of 3.4%. This figure could be seriously reduced by the introduction of a globally-available vaccine, making the coronavirus much less dangerous.

As healthcare workers constantly in close contact with the oral and nasal cavities of patients, dental professionals are at the front line of recognizing symptoms and helping to stop the spread of the latest coronavirus. Regardless of whether your dental practice is located within an area affected by the disease or not, it’s crucial your office follows the recommended CDC guidelines to protect the health of your patients, your employees and yourself. 

From your team of staff and your equipment to the treatments you offer and your interior design, there are many parts of your dental practice that are fairly simple to change, but location isn’t one of them. To help you avoid the horror of realizing you’ve made a terrible mistake and then the staggeringly high cost of fixing the error, it’s important you do your research when it comes to choosing the location for your dental practice and get it right first time round.

“Your services are no longer required”, “We’re taking things in a different direction”, “I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go”...however it’s worded, all three of these phrases mean the same thing — you’re fired. Regardless of whether or not the dismissal was your fault, being asked to pack up your things and leave the dental office is a nerve-wracking experience that will leave you feeling shaken and worried.

No two dental practices are the same. Some enjoy great success with outsourcing, while others are capable of handling most things in house. Even if you’ve always taken care of the work on your own, if you’ve recently expanded your dental practice, outsourcing at least some of your more troublesome tasks has likely crossed your mind. But is outsourcing the right move for your business?