COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Updates

We’re open and able to offer all of our dental services again! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

We have always followed the strictest of standards for infection control and now we have added and changed some protocols & guidelines to further ensure everyone’s safety. You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We have made the following changes to help protect our patients and staff.

Some of the things you may notice include:

  • Before your scheduled visit, we will contact you to confirm your appointment and ask you a set of health-related questions related to exposure to and risk of COVID-19.
  • All patients & staff entering the office are required to wear masks or face coverings at all times.
  • We ask that you please arrive for your appointment alone. No visitors other than the scheduled patient are permitted in the office. The only exceptions are a patient with an aide or a guardian with a minor (patient). Anyone entering the office must be screened.
  • Upon arrival, before checking in at the front desk, you will be directed to a handwashing station.
  • Once you are ready to check in, you will be asked the same set of health related questions & also have your temperature taken using a contactless thermometer.
  • We have hand sanitizer in all treatment rooms as well as in the reception area for frequent patient and staff use.
  • You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
  • To improve air quality even beyond our current high standard, we have added High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters to each patient room as well as in the waiting areas.
  • Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. We are altering our business hours to accommodate appointments and allow for a reduced number of patients and staff in the office at one time.
  • Upon being escorted to your treatment room, you will be asked to use a hydrogen peroxide oral rinse to reduce exposure to germs.
  • New personal protective equipment like face shields, scrub caps, gowns, and masks will be worn by our doctors and team to provide barriers.
  • Use of protocols to reduce or eliminate airborne aerosols during all dental procedures, such as increased use of high evacuation suction tools will be used.

Things that you may not see, but that we will also be doing include:

  • Taking temperature and health related questionnaires on each of our staff members as they enter for the day. Any staff member with a temperature of 100.4 or higher, will be asked to leave and only return to work after clearance from a physician.
  • We will be scheduling longer appointment times to prepare and complete all appointment tasks and duties in the safest and most comprehensive manner.
  • Enhanced treatment room disinfection procedures of all surfaces between patients.
  • Enhanced disinfection procedures of equipment and office fixtures like computers, keyboards, mouses, telephones, tablets, chairs, doorknobs, buttons, and restroom surfaces that may be touched unconsciously.

 

For further information on the guidelines we are adhering to, please visit CDC Guidelines for Dentistry.

Our protocols will likely evolve over time as guidelines are updated in order to keep you and our staff safe. We ask that you reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is currently sick or has been sick within the last 14 days.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you and every patient safe in our practice.

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