At Quality Dental we are approaching our comeback from the COVID 19 Pandemic from a position of confidence and care. We are taking steps based on the best available science to create best practices that will ensure that we can protect not only ourselves, but our patients and our community at large.
First and foremost, we are taking every action available to ensure that we provide a safe, clean, and welcoming environment to our patients. The first thing you will notice is the door, it will be propped open so that you do not touch the door on your way in or out of the office. Our reception areas look and feel different than they were prior to the pandemic; we do not have toys and magazines in the reception area. We are taking extra care to disinfect not only our operatories and sterilize all of our instruments as usual; but we are also being diligent with disinfecting surfaces throughout our office including the reception areas, restrooms, doors, and front desk counters, on an ongoing basis. You will also notice plexiglass shields placed at the front desk, this provides an extra level of protection to all our front desk staff and our patients. If you look closely you will notice air purifiers placed throughout the office, these purifiers filter beyond the capabilities of HEPA filters and remove particles down to 0.1 microns (smaller than a corona virus). We have invested in UVc germicidal/viricidal lights proven to be effective against corona virus that will be used in conjunction with our disinfectant wipes, sprays, and steam sanitizing devices to prepare our office to welcome each patient. We will continue to practice good hygiene amongst our doctors and staff and will provide our patients and their family’s with hand sanitizer to do the same.
We are also asking our patients to play an active role in our ability to safely reopen to the public. We are asking that non patients not come into the reception area. If you must come with other family members, we ask that they wait in the car or outside. We ask that all patients please wear a face covering to your appointment. We will be asking any patients who are having symptoms of a flu like illness to stay at home and reschedule to a time when you are feeling better, likely 2 to 3 weeks out. We will be asking questions on the phone, as well as in person to find out if you have been in contact with anyone who is sick, if you yourself are experiencing any symptoms, or if you have recently traveled to places dealing with wide spread outbreaks. We will also be taking our patient’s temperature prior to procedures and may ask that you reschedule if you show an elevated temperature. For patients who have recovered from COVID-19 we will ask for documentation of negative test results and an additional 14 day waiting period beyond the date of the negative test result prior to making an appointment. For our scheduled patients, we will be asking that all of you take a 60 second oral rinse prior to your procedure. This is known to destroy viruses and bacteria, which will help ensure the lowest possible risk of spreading illness even from those who are entirely asymptomatic.
To our patients of record in need of emergency treatment, who may fit into a higher risk category and who may be ill, running a fever, flu like symptoms, recent travel to hot spots, or contact with others believed to be ill; we can almost always provide temporary relief from pain and infection through the use of medications that can be phoned in, we can offer Tele visits and avoid the need for an in person visit until it is safe to bring you into the office. In the situation, however, that you require care that cannot be delayed, you will not be turned away. We may however, ask that you come in at a time after regular office hours so that we may take extra precaution to protect our other patients and staff while still providing you the care that you should expect from our office. We ask that you always call ahead so that we may make those necessary arrangements.
We have been diligently preparing to welcome you back to our office and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to ensure your safety. We are excited to begin accepting routine patient visits again, starting Monday May 4, 2020.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this challenging time. We continue to pray for all our staff, our patients, our community and our nation and have full faith and confidence that we will emerge from this better, stronger, and more caring to one another than ever before. Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Quality Dental family, through this situation I am only that much more aware of how blessed I am to have such wonderful patient’s and staff.
