Important Information Regarding COVID-19

Great News! We are back in the office!

Dear patients, family, and friends:

We have exciting news…we have permission to resume regular patient care.
We hope this email finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and we are all looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines.
While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety, oral health and overall well-being.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, as you may have seen during your prior visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. In addition to the already in place infection controls, we’ve added significant new protocols and procedures based on Covid-19 guidelines.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.

When you come in for your appointment, you will experience several changes that are designed to protect both patients and staff. These changes will be the “new normal” for now.

Some examples:
*We have reduced the number of patients per day to allow for social distancing
*Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
*We will ask you to call us when you have parked near our office. We ask for you to wait in your car until we invite you up so there will be no waiting time in the reception area.
*We ask that you come to your appointment alone: if you need some assistance, please have your companion wait outside or in your car after we get you set up in the treatment room.
*You will be required to wear a mask or face covering to enter our facility. Please bring your own. You will also have your temperature taken.
*We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
*You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer beverages, snacks, magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect and allow for cross contamination.
*Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
*We have placed protective screens at check-in
*Our operatories have new high suction equipment
*We use 80% alcohol disinfectant products
*We have Air Purifiers with True HEPA and plasma wave technology in our reception areas
*In the clinical area, there will also be some changes you may notice.
*Increased PPE on the clinical team. Under an abundance of caution, you will see we are pretty covered up.
*Due to the extra layers, you might find the clinical area cool. Please bring a sweater for comfort.
*Please be patient with us in regards to scheduling: we have a lot of back log and are trying to arrange appointments by priority. We will be in touch to confirm appointment times. As of now, we are keeping hygiene visits to a minimum.
*Extra equipment to handle aerosols: extra oral vacuums and air purifiers that make sure the air throughout the office is clean and pure.

We ask that you complete all necessary paperwork prior to your appointment date – this includes consent forms and treatment plans. Once completed, please email or fax fully executed copies to our office.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we are taking to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.
Thank you for being our patient. We miss you and value your trust and loyalty. We look forward to welcoming you back, along with all our patients, neighbors and friends.

We are looking forward to seeing your beautiful smiles!