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Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 18 (EMN): The Covid-19 pandemic has not only changed the lifestyle of the people around the world but also the way business in almost all the sectors, including dentistry and other healthcare professions, operates.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, a dental clinic in Bengaluru called Dental Lavelle is said to have made more than 25 changes related to safety and infection control so far.
Dr. Imnasenla Longkumer, a dentist at the clinic, told Eastern Mirror that areas like personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilisation and disinfection, hourly high-touch surface disinfection and social distancing among others have been rigorously strengthened in the clinic.
She informed that the most important or rather unique aspect of the facility is the ‘negative pressure treatment rooms’ that have been implemented, which is the first of its kind in the city. She explained that the treatment rooms have a hospital grade advanced air exhaust system.
The challenge with common dental procedures is the mist generated, which is known to carry the virus, she shared.
“The system at Dental Lavelle not only removes this air from the treatment rooms, but sends it (and the virus) through several pre-filters, UV light, HEPA filters, Ultra Low Particulate Air Filters (smaller than HEPA) and eventually through an air heater at 180 degrees, to kill/deactivate the virus and then release it to the environment," she informed.
In addition to advanced PPE and other protocols, the practice has gone above and beyond basic recommendations to provide dental care, she said, adding that the office has been divided into three zones, where green zone is for staff and doctors, yellow zone for patients with heightened precautions and red zone for treatment only.
The waiting room has been modified to accommodate four patients at a time, maintaining five to six feet distance from one another. Moreover, on the dental chair, temperature checks are performed for every patient, and screening forms are provided at each visit, she said.
Longkumer informed that Dental Lavelle was established in Bengaluru in 2003 and Druthil Belur is the present clinical director. The facility is also informed to have a centre for advanced education, accommodating over 40 dentists where seminars, workshops and hands-on course are conducted.
