First pandemic appointments to dentist, salon go off without a hitch
It is understandable, as businesses reopen, to have feelings of trepidation as appointments for doctors, dentists, hair salons and more are back on the calendar. Will it be safe, and what will be different amid this coronavirus pandemic?
Those two questions were answered at a dentist appointment on June 3 on the South Hill and an appointment for a much-needed haircut on June 9 in downtown Spokane.
Dr. Jeffrey C. Regelin
During an appointment reminder phone call 48 hours before the early Wednesday morning appointment, questions about COVID-19 and sickness were asked, and it was noted to wear a face mask into the office.
Walking into the reception area at Regelin’s office, every office employee was wearing face masks and gloves, and plexiglass separators had been installed between the reception area and patients.
There were two big changes upon sitting in the patient chair. Gone are the days of checking temperatures orally or via the ear, as a temperature checker – probably not the actual name of it – was pointed like a laser at my forehead for clearance.
The second, and worst, was being asked to rinse for 30 seconds with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, aka antiseptic or a bleaching agent, and water. One word: Disgusting. To get rid of the aftertaste, I asked to rinse with mouthwash, too. It’s done to kill any possibilities of viruses, so it’s a good thing – but the taste is a bad thing.
A friend who had a dentist appointment shortly afterward confirmed the same rinse and response to it. Back to the appointment, everything else was the same, and it was a relief to have a teeth cleaning done again.
There were no handshakes goodbye, but the cleaning went well and included areas of improvement in the teeth and gums. Success!
The Jewel Box Salon
About one week later, more than 90 days of hair growth was shorn at the Jewel Box Salon downtown by Abbey Crawford on a rainy Tuesday morning.
Before the appointment, an email confirmation was received with new procedures and necessary precautions that included the following: Call the hairstylist upon arrival. She will meet you at the entrance. You’ll sign a waiver before entering the salon.
Also, you’ll wear a face mask during the entire appointment at the salon, and you also will wash your hands before the haircut and after entering the salon. Every stylist I’ve ever had is a hugger, but there were no hugs at the Jewel Box Salon on this morning.
After hair washing, Crawford, who was featured as a “pandemic saint” by The Spokesman-Review for her fashionable Facebook makeup and hair looks on May 15, wiped down the area before returning to her station to resume cutting and styling.
One interesting note was having to work around the straps of the face mask around the ears, but Crawford succeeded like a champ. The salon was clean as a whistle; Crawford was the utmost professional and so charming and fun; and other patrons were happy to have their hair cutting and socializing circle resume again.
Only time will tell how reopening will be for other businesses, but these appointments went off without a hitch. The extra precautions by Regelin and his staff and Crawford and her colleagues are much-appreciated, and a return visit to both, with face masks on, will be made without trepidation.