Dental Treatments in Costa Rica During COVID-19

In this article you will read about:

Dental Treatments During COVID-19
Online Consultation with Dental Clinic
How Safe is to Visit a Dental Clinic During COVID-19?

The COVID-19 Pandemic has a rough impact on Medical Tourism, pushing clinics to close or try and find alternative treating and communication options. To have insights on dental tourism in Costa Rica, we discussed with Massimo from Freer Dental Esthetic and Implant Center in San Jose.

How are Dental Clinics Handling Coronavirus Pandemic?

“Now all the energies are aimed at finding solutions, protecting the health and we are satisfied because the crisis has stimulated creativity and cohesion among us. There is a new understanding and the moments of confrontation have multiplied to further raise the level of attention towards the patient, who must always feel safe and secure, and in the process receive the best quality treatment."

Online Consultations with Freer Dental Clinic

Invasive dental treatments and operations are of course not doable online, but if you have certain questions about the Dental industry in Costa Rica, here you can contact Massimo from Freer Dental Clinic for a free consultation with a specialist. You will need your Panoramic X-Rays and other relevant information about your dental condition.

How is Freer Dental Clinic Avoiding COVID-19 Spread?

"For normal operation, in our environment, characterized by maximum hygiene and sterility before, you will have to wear a headcover, double gloves, double mask, shoe covers, and disposable gowns. At the dental office of Dr. Alejandro Freer, a protocol has been studied in view of the reopening of the activities in 'phase 2' of the Coronavirus emergency. No less important is the preparation of the patient, with a triage first by telephone and then in the studio, to identify the person at risk of Covid-19 and follow the appropriate rules. We do not rule out that in the near future there may be rapid tests for Sars-CoV-2 so reliable that they can submit the person to the examination a quarter of an hour before entering the dental office."

"Last but not least, an increase in hygiene standards, including the OZONE ventilation of dental rooms for each patient and a waiting room that does not contain objects such as magazines and brochures, which could become a vehicle of contamination."

Undertaken Measures to Prevent Coronavirus Spread at Freer Dental Clinic

1. All study staff must always wear PPE (double pair of gloves, non-woven headgear, suitable mask - the type of mask to be used varies according to the patient to be treated, the type of performance, and the health status of patients) as well disposable socks and TNT shirts.

2. Before putting on disposable gloves, we wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with specific soaps and/or hydroalcoholic or chlorine-based gels.

3. Patients will also be properly dressed after walking through the study door. For them, we bought: shoe covers, plastic bags for bags and jackets as well as hand sanitizing gel.

4. The use of tools also will vary. We avoid the airflow, which produces a very strong aerosol. Since 2017 instead of the turbine, we use the electronic handpiece drill to limit aerosol.

5. We subject the customers to the rapid serological test, which involves a small puncture with a needle in order to detect the health status of patients before surgery.

6. We have added more information to the classic anamnesis sheet to fill in, one annexed to sign when in contact with coronavirus positive people or any other particular symptoms.

7. An increase in hygiene standards, including the OZONE (O3 )ventilation of dental rooms for each patient and a waiting room that does not contain objects such as magazines and brochures, which could become a vehicle of contamination. For this purpose, we have installed OZONE technology for Air and Water in the Freer's Clinic. The use of ozone has been recognized as a natural alternative to traditional chemical disinfection and sanitization processes. Since 26 June 2001, ozone also boasts the recognition of the FDA (Food & Drug Administration), which validates and certifies its use.