On Wednesday, June 3rd, the PA Department of Health revised it’s position on patient care in dental offices across the State. We will now be able to see all patients for routine dental cleanings and exams in addition to the emergencies that we have seen seeing for several months now. If you currently have an appointment with us, we will be in contact with you to give you guidance regarding a possible change to the starting time for that visit. We have to modify our schedule to allow for more time in order to space out patient arrival and departure. If you would still prefer to stay at home, we are available for teledentistry via the secure Medpod website. What constitutes an emergency is spelled out very well on the American Dental Association’s website: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en
This pandemic has and will change how dental visits will be handled as we now enter Yellow Phase across our State:
You will be asked questions about your current health and presence of any symptoms prior to coming into the office for your future appointments. You will be asked the same questions upon arrival and have your temperature taken. You can also trust that our team members will be healthy and symptom-free as well. We will space appointments to minimize patient interaction in our reception area or common areas of the office. When you arrive, we ask that you call us and we will let you know when you can come up to see your hygienist or Dr. Ryan or myself. We have installed Air Purification units throughout the office to remove aerosols and clean the air. You will notice that our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that we wear will also change as a result of this viral outbreak. The truth of the matter is, we have always (and will always) treat everyone with “Universal Precautions”. This means that even if someone fails to divulge a specific disease on their medical history; we still use masks, gloves, barrier protection, instrument sterilization and disinfectant wipes before and after every patient.
It is important to note that patients that have a fever or are coughing and ill should always refrain from being in public; which includes seeing the dentist or going to work. Even with all of our precautions, will certainly understand if you want to reschedule your appointment given the climate of concern that will be with us for the foreseeable future. However, if you feel well, there is no need to cancel your future appointment and we will continue to provide you with outstanding dentistry in a safe and caring environment. Please feel free to call Dr. Ryan and I if you have any other questions!
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