COVID-19: A Message To Our Wonderful Patients
Dear Patient: WE ARE OPEN!!
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months and all of us are 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.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice as have seen during your visits. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the added infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe during this unprecedented time.
Upon arrival, patients must ring bell to be checked in. We will then welcome you in, take your temperature, and move you directly into the operatory for your cleaning and treatment. Family/caregivers must wait outside during procedure. Protective glass screens have been placed at the front desk to further increase social distancing safety.
We have HEPA filters placed throughout the entire office with UV light that filters and clears bacteria and viruses from the air replacing the atmosphere in the office with clean cool air. Special UV-C WAND sanitizers will be used to decontaminate all treatment areas as well as UV-C Pedestal lights to sanitize and disinfect rooms and PPE.
We will be pre-screening all patients and employees daily by checking temperature and evaluating medical history. We will only use top quality PPE with proven safety records. We are implementing an oral pre-rinse and post-rinse with 3% hydrogen peroxide to decrease microbial particles in the oral cavity.
We have implemented the use of a high speed aerosol vacuum suction “The Leaf” placed inside the patient’s mouth to vacuum any aerosolized particles during procedures. We will continue to abide by social distancing guidelines in the waiting room as well as provide masks and gloves to those who need them.
Our office has always followed 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.
Additionally you will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. Adding to our already stellar infection control protocol, we made these changes to help protect our patients and staff:
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 have hand sanitizer that you may 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 magazines, coffee, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
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 will allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time and allow for adequate cleaning time in the operatories.
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. To make an appointment, please call 408-266-6811 or visit our website at www.mywillowglendentist.com
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Drs. John and Leah Massoud & Dental Team
