All this time the office has been closed, we have been busy preparing and implementing the new guidelines. We have been taking multiple continuing education classes/webinars as information continues to be delivered.
We are installing in our office medical-grade air purifiers with true HEPA air filters with carbon to reduce the particulates and pathogens in the air.
We are installing portable UV-C light and Ozon air-disinfection devices. These devices will disinfect air and surfaces after hours when the office is closed and no patients are present.
We have updated our PPE protocol according to the new guidelines.
COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives. Your regular visits to the dentist have changed, too.
Here’s what you can expect at your next appointment.
Before your appointment
To help make sure that patients arriving for their appointments are healthy, you will receive a message with a link to a COVID-19 form that you need to fill out about your current health.
We will also ask that you limit the number of people you bring to the appointment. That means that you can bring to the appointment, only the child or children that have an appointment for that day and time.
During your appointment
Massachusetts is requiring people to wear masks in public, be sure you and our child wear one during your appointment. When you arrive at the dental office, you may be asked to wait outside until we are ready for you. This will reduce the number of people in the office and reduce the amount of time you’re close to other people. When you enter the office, you will have your temperature taken.
Only patients that have previously confirmed their appointment and have completed the pre-screening by phone will be allowed to proceed for treatment.
Allow older children to go into the treatment room alone while their parent waits outside during their appointment.
Inside the office, you may notice that things people often touch in the waiting room – like toys or magazines – have been removed. We will have hand sanitizer available for you to use. We will frequently be wiping down items you touch, such as clipboards or furniture.
When you’re in the dental chair, we may be using different protective equipment than we have used at previous appointments. This could include different masks, face shields, gowns, and goggles. These additional precautions help protect both you and the providers.
We are closely following and adhering to precautions advised by the CDC, ADA, AAPD, MDS and MDPH. We are constantly evaluating the advice from local and national experts to direct our actions from day-to-day. As always, the safety, health, and well-being of our patients and staff are the utmost importance to us.
After your appointment
After your appointment is over, the staff will thoroughly clean the areas where you’ve been, using disinfectants that are effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 to prepare for the next patient. This helps reduce the risk of illness being passed to others.
If you start feeling ill with the symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of your appointment, call the dental office. You may have already been carrying the virus at the time of your appointment, so anyone who came into contact with you during that time could be at risk for getting sick too.
Remember, regular dental visits are an essential part of your oral hygiene routine – and are important for your overall health. Be sure to reschedule your dental checkups once your local authorities allow dental practices to reopen. We will make sure your visit is as safe as possible for everyone involved.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you soon! Wishing you and your loved ones all the best!!
