What did the office change about its air in 2020?
In 2020 Stone Falls Dental Care upgraded its heating and cooling system, installing UVC lamps in the furnace and air ducts along with electronic air cleaners. It also placed a GermGuardian 4-in-1 air purifier with a HEPA filter in each clinical and office space.
The two work at different scales. The duct equipment treats the air that moves through the whole building, while the room purifiers keep cleaning the air where patients and the team actually spend their time.
How do UVC lamps in the air ducts work?
UVC is a short wavelength of ultraviolet light that damages the genetic material of bacteria, viruses and mold, so they can’t reproduce. Mounted inside the ductwork, the lamps shine on the air passing by and on the cooling coils, where damp, dark conditions let microbes grow.
Hospitals and other sensitive buildings have used UVC in their air handling for years. The lamps sit out of sight inside the system, so patients are never exposed to the light.
What does a HEPA filter remove from the air?
A true HEPA filter traps very fine airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander and many of the tiny droplets that carry germs. Filters sold as HEPA must meet a strict standard for how much of the finest particles they capture.
In a dental office, that matters because routine work like polishing and cleaning creates a fine spray. A purifier in each room keeps pulling that air through its filter. People with allergies often notice the difference too.
How are instruments and treatment rooms kept clean?
Every visit follows the sterilization and cross-contamination standards of the American Dental Association, OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those standards were in place long before 2020 and are the backbone of infection control in any dental office.
Reusable instruments are cleaned and heat-sterilized between patients, single-use items are discarded after one use, and every treatment surface is disinfected before the next person is seated. You can read more about how the practice works on our practice page.
Are the 2020 visitor and mask rules still in place?
The temporary rules from 2020 aren’t described here as current policy. Visit guidance has changed several times since then, and the office will tell you what applies on the day of your appointment. That way your answer comes from the people who set the policy today.
If you have a health concern, need someone to come with you, or want to know what to expect, call (618) 624-2800 before your visit. You can also request an appointment and ask the scheduling coordinator when they call to confirm.