Celestial Dental installs innovative air purification system

In an effort to ensure that adults and children have a safe place to come for emergency dental care in light of COVID-19, Celestial Dental became the first practice in Monroe County to install one of the most advanced medical-grade air purification systems in mid-March, according to a news release issued by the practice. The system, used globally in hospitals and other medical settings to sterilize indoor air, eliminates viruses much smaller than and structurally similar to the coronavirus.

Celestial Dental is open for same-day, evening or weekend real-time emergency dental care in a medically-safe, clean air environment. The system filters the air every two to three minutes in examination rooms and every half hour in the office.

“If someone has a broken or cracked tooth, severe pain and sensitivity, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or an inability to eat or chew, access to immediate emergency dental care is crucial,” said dentist Antonio Calascibetta, owner of Celestial Dental. “In addition to the air purification system, we are following surgical-level sanitization procedures and safe distancing protocols aligned with the CDC and American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines with regard to COVID-19.”

If prospective patients have a fever or are exhibiting symptoms of the illness, they are encouraged to stay home. Phone consultations are available for patients who are ill to alleviate pain in the short-term. Patients are pre-screened upon arrival outside the building to ensure that they and their family members are fever-free and without symptoms for at least the last 24 hours.

“We are committed to keeping our patients and staff safe not only during this challenging time, but every single day,” said Calascibetta. “Our air purification systems will stay in our office permanently beyond the pandemic.”

According to the practice, since mid-March, Celestial Dental has donated more than $15,000 in emergency dental treatment in the form of free exams and X-rays. At age 29, Calascibetta is the youngest dentist owning a private practice in Monroe County.

Photo: Calascibetta