Dear Patients,

These are difficult and confusing times for everyone.  Specifically with regards to COVID-19, there has been a lot of information being thrown out there and it's difficult to determine fact from fiction as doctors and scientists are struggling themselves for nearly a year. 

However, what we do know is that this coronavirus, while seemingly more contagious than the common cold and flu virus, is more easily transmitted through similar means.  Someone who is infected with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms) will have viral shedding in the respiratory organs.  So whether it's coughing, sneezing, or even speaking, the virus can be expelled out of the mouth and put those who are immediately around them at risk.

Going to the dentist means having treatment done in the mouth.  And some of the procedures being performed can generate additional aerosol, expelling it from the mouth and into the office environment.  The dentist and dental hygienist are at risk.  The rest of the staff is at risk.  And patients coming into the office would also be at some risk.  The management of dental aerosol has never been more important.

All dental professionals are trained to treat every patient as if they're coming to the office with some infectious/contagious disease.  The extra PPE that your dental office is using is there to protect them from their patients.  Because by protecting themselves, they can stay healthy so when it's your turn, they won't pass anything to you.  However, current PPE protocol means adding more layers:  face shields, n95 masks (or double-masking), and HEPA air filtration.  With that said, aside from the HEPA air filtration, none of the aforementioned PPE actually remove the aerosol threat from the office environment.  HEPA filters take time to circulate the air and they need to be maintained/changed.  We would have to trust that the office is doing so on a regular basis.

The nation struggles with COVID-19 cases, hospital ICU with limited capacity, and inefficient roll out of the COVID vaccines.  And as the virus mutates and new strains surface, it is now more important than ever to make sure that you are doing your best to minimize your exposure.  If not for your own safety, then for the safety of your family and loved ones who may be more susceptible.

Our HALO aerosol reducing device is one of only a handful of products on the market that will actually remove the aerosol from the dental office (not to be recirculated back into the office air).  It is capable of doing what PPEs cannot.  By removing the amount of aerosol, it will significantly reduce the exposure risk to the dentist, the hygienist, the staff, and in turn, to all the patients that come through the office.  As our demonstration and comparison videos show, the HALO's unique design performs extremely well against the competition.  While we do not claim the HALO device to be perfect, it is easy to see that an office that uses the HALO is likely much safer than one that does not.

So for your next teeth-cleaning and check-up, or your next restorative procedure, check to see if your dental office is using the HALO.  If not, tell them about it.  It's for their protection, and ultimately, it's for your protection.