COVID-19 & Oral Health Care

COVID-19 PPE

The UF College of Dentistry, along with dental centers across the United States, made changes to the physical environment and took other steps to help protect our patients, and our care providers, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some changes may be transparent to you but some things may look a little different. Below we outline what patients can expect to see during your dental appointments. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to patient safety.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.


Infection Control

residents in face shields

Infection control has always been a top priority for UF College of Dentistry centers so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.

All UF College of Dentistry centers follow infection control recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and guidance from the American Dental Association (ADA) including new ones created as a result of COVID-19.

If new recommendations are issued by the CDC, OSHA, the ADA or other regulatory agencies, we will adjust as necessary to help protect you, our care providers, and everyone in the communities we serve.


What Can I Expect at My Next Appointment?

  • We will contact you before your appointment to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again and we will take your take your temperature when you arrive for your appointment.
  • Please wear a mask to your appointment. If you do not have one, we will give you one when you enter the dental center.
  • If possible, come to your appointment alone or, if someone traveled with you, ask them to wait in the car or outside. We are doing our part to minimize the number of people in any area. If your child has a dental appointment, we ask that only one adult accompany him or her.
  • We will ask you to use hand sanitizer when you come in our facility before and after your procedure.
  • Our waiting areas will no longer have magazines or children’s toys since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
  • Our appointments will be staggered as best as possible to allow for social distancing so you may not have as many options for appointment times. We appreciate your patience during this time.
  • Care providers will wear higher-levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) depending on the type of care provided including head covers, face shields and face masks that provide additional protection for everyone in the clinical environment, including you and all our patients.
  • We also enhanced our disinfectant procedures between appointments and added environmental protections to clinical care spaces and check-in/check-out areas. These include physical barriers like plastic screens and sheeting, air filtration, and other safeguards.

Do You Have a Dental Emergency?

UF College of Dentistry

Teledentistry Video Appointment

Video appointments provide emergency care and patient screening via a secure platform, Zoom. This allows patients to remain at home for screening and appropriate care management.

Teledentistry video appointments are safe and secure, and support directives for social distancing.