How are dentists preparing to reopen in less than two weeks

Dr. Michael Lamastra is preparing for the day Maple Dental in Amherst can fully reopen, a day that could be less than two weeks away.

YOUR NEXT DENTISTAPPOINTMENT MAYALSO BE A LOTDIFFERENT IN THISNEW ENVIRONMENT...OFFICES STATEWIDEARE PREPARING TOREOPEN.AND AS DENTISTS ADDNEW SAFETYMEASURES..

THEREARE QUESTIONSABOUT WHICH PHASETHEY FALL UNDERHERE IN NEW YORK..HERE'S 7 EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTEROLIVIA PROIADR. MICHAELLAMASTRA ISPREPARING FOR THEDAY MAPLE DENTALCAN FULLY REOPEN...A DAY THAT COULDBE LESS THAN TWOWEEKS AWAY.DR: THE GOVERNORHASN'T SPECIFICALLYMENTIONED WHENDENTISTS WILL COMEBACK.

WE THINK WE'REIN PHASE TWO.

THEYTALKED ABOUTLICENSEDPROFESSIONALS INPHASE TWO.

BUT HEHASN'T SPECIFICALLYMENTIONED DENTISTS.AFTER NEARLY 40YEARS AS A DENTIST,DR. LAMASTRA SAYSHE'S SEEN JUSTABOUT EVERYTHING.DR: WE'VE DEALT WITHHEPATITIS, SARS,WE'VE DEALT WITH TB,WE'VE DEALT WITHHERPES AND NOW WEHAVE TO DEAL WITHTHIS.

WE'VE DONE ALLTHESE THINGS ANDWE'RE USED TO DOINGTHIS.

WE ARE TRAINED.WE WENT TO SCHOOLFOR 8 YEARS.

WE AREDOCTORS.BUT THE LONGERDENTISTS' OFFICESREMAINED CLOSED...THE MORE SERIOUSSITUATIONS BECOME.DR: WE ARE NOT GOINGTO BE ABLE TODIAGNOSE THESETHINGS.

THINGS AREGOING TO GO ON ANDPEOPLE ARE GOING TOWAIT.

THEY'RE GOINGTO PUT OFF THEIRVISIT BECAUSE THEYTHINK THEY SHOULD BEAFRAID.

THEY REALLYSHOULDN'T BE AFRAIDBECAUSE WE KNOWHOW TO HANDLE THIS.DR. LAMASTRA SAYS INADDITION TOORDERING ALL OF THEPROPER P-P-E, LIKEFACE SHIELDS ANDISOLATION GOWNS,HE'S BEEN LISTENINGTO WEBINARS ANDFOLLOWINGGUIDELINES TO BESTREADY THE OFFICE.DR: SO I'VE ORDEREDNEW WINDOWS THATOPEN SO THEY'LL BEINSTALLED NEXT WEEK.HE'S ALSO PLACED AIRFILTERS THROUGHOUTTHE OFFICE AND INTHE FURNACE.

THEBIGGEST CONCERNARE THE AREOSOLSTHAT SPRAY INTO THEAIR WHEN THEY USESPECIFIC TOOLS.DR: BUT ACCORDING TORECENT STUDIESTHEY'VE DONE, IF YOUHAVE AN ASSISTANTWITH HIGH SPEEDSUCTION, IT WILL TAKEOUT UP TO 90 PERCENTOF THE AREOSOLS.HE WILL ALSO BELIMITING THE AMOUNTOF PEOPLE IN HISOFFICE BY HAVINGPATIENTS WAIT FORTHEIR APPOINTMENTIN THE CAR.... NEWRULES IN ORDER TOGET PATIENTS BACK INTHE CHAIR SAFELY.IN AMHERST, OP,7EWN.