CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Local dentist offices are following suit in adjusting to new norms as the pandemic continues.
New rules and regulations may take some time getting used to, but area dental experts say this is all an effort to keep staff and patients safe.
Staff with Family Dentistry By Dr. Baria Yassin say due to the ongoing health crisis their facility closed for a couple of weeks.
However, patients with dental emergencies were listed as a high priority and were able to be treated.
"You don’t know what a person has rather they are COVID-19 carriers or if they have some type of viral illness," said dental assistant Nelly Diaz of Yassin's practice. "We need to take precaution at all times with all patients."
The office is open for the community, but the staff is required to wear protective equipment and everyone is require social distancing regulations.
Concerns with the coronavirus have also affected other offices, too.
“We ended up having to reschedule close to about 300 people for pretty much the whole month of April,” says Dr. Ben Vela, owner of Vela Dental Center.
Vela says visitors can also find signs around the building telling visitors to sanitize and remain healthy during this pandemic.
“We’re limiting waiting room times we’re getting people in sooner we’re limiting the number of people we’re seeing per day and we're basically limiting contact with patients,” Vela said.
Both dental offices say they are also conducting pre-screenings before patients seek their dental appointments.
The screenings will give the dental offices an idea if the patients have been traveling, have been feeling sick and their temperatures are checked.