Since I had to be at the SFVA anyway – I thought I would check to see if the dental clinic might just have an opening. Dental, like the Infusion Center and all the other procedure driven clinics requires a negative COVID test within 3 days. (Not that I enjoy getting a swab jammed up my nose, but it makes sense to maximize the amount of goodness I can get out of that particular bit of uncomfortableness.   My dentist’s afternoon patient hadn’t show up, so she was willing to haul me in for a short exam. 

Which will lead to me returning tomorrow – the only patient for the morning. I scored both a cleaning and a repair to a broken filling. 

The VA is taking good care of its dental staff – they have full protective equipment including PAPR’s (portable air purifying respirators). If you are not familiar with this particular bit of fun, it is a pump worn on the back of the belt. Sucking in room air, it filters it prior to blowing it into the hood. No matter how much aerosol is generated during a dental procedure, it doesn’t wind up in the dentist’s or dental assistant’s breathing zone.

protection +

Not quite space aliens……