Covid-19 Policy

DENTAL OFFICE SAFETY PROTOCOL – MIDDLETOWN, NY

Our Commitment to Safety

We recognize times have changed. Priorities have shifted. Today, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our staff and patients.

With this in mind, we are happy to share the 27 additional steps we are taking to make every visit to our office as safe as possible. These actions are incremental to our normal standards of care that meet or exceed all CDC, OSHA, and ADA guidelines for dental practices.

Our goal is to add peace of mind to the friendliness and clinical excellence you have come to expect. Of course, this is part of an on-going commitment that will evolve with the times. As always, we welcome the opportunity to answer any of your questions and to address all concerns.

We are in this together, and we will never underestimate the power of a smile!

Even though we would like to get back into the office to meet our patients’ dental health needs, our first priority is the safety and health of our staff and patients. New York State has provided guidelines and metrics as to when it is appropriate and safe for dental offices to open. This following New York State link https://forward.ny.gov/regional-monitoring-dashboard provides us with that information. In addition, we are following the guidance from the CDC, OSHA, and the ADA.

• Advanced Staff Training

Each member of our team has completed additional awareness and prevention programs to enhance their knowledge and preparedness.

• Daily Health Checks of Our Team

No-contact temperature checks and a quick set of questions will ensure our team is ready, willing, and able to provide safe dental care every day.

• No Handshakes or Hugs

We truly do love our patients. However, we will save our hearty welcomes and goodbyes for a later date when things are "back to normal."

• No Office Tours

We enjoy starting every new patient visit by showing off our amazing practice. These tours will have to wait for your next visit.

• Personal Hygiene Standards

Along with short hair or hair that is worn up; this means no long fingernails, no jewelry, and no watches for any team member while in the office.

• Change Work Clothes at Work

In the past, you might have seen us at the grocery store in our stylish scrubs. No longer. Now, we change into and out of our newly cleaned scrubs at the office every day.

• Anti-Microbial Rinse

In addition to brushing and flossing before your visit, we will provide an Oracare solution to rinse in your mouth for 60 seconds to reduce bacteria.

• Virtual Waiting Room

Now, you can check in from your car. As a result, you are able to minimize contact with others, bypass the reception area, and go directly to your treatment room.

• No Patient Gloves Allowed

Minimizing cross-contamination is an important part of our plan. We will ask you to dispose of any outside gloves before you enter.

• Sequenced Patient Scheduling

Plain and simple, we are not seeing as many patients. We are allocating more time between visits for coming, going, and cleaning.

• Pre-Screening of Every Patient

A quick health questionnaire and consent form along with a no-touch temperature check will be completed when you arrive at our office.

• Expanded Patient Appointments

In an effort to save you time and multiple exposures, we are offering extended appointments. This allows us to do more dentistry in a single visit.

• Teledentistry

Some consultations and follow-up visits can be handled via our secure, patient communication portal. It is a cool, ultra-safe, and efficient extension of our office.

• Hospital-Grade Hand Sanitizing Station

Every patient will be asked to thoroughly disinfect their hands before entering the clinical area of our practice.

• Social Distancing in Place

Fewer chairs in our reception area, helpful signs, and one-way traffic in our treatment area make 6’ spacing a practical reality.

• Cleaning After Every Appointment

We are super clean as we thoroughly wipe, sanitize, and disinfect all instruments, equipment, and surfaces in each operatory after every patient.

• Deep Cleaning Every Evening

Along with cleaning and sanitizing during the day, we take things to another level at night with a thorough top-to-bottom scrub down.

• CDC-Approved Instrument Sterilization

This is standard procedure at all times, and nothing has changed. Anything that goes near your mouth is heat and pressure cleaned between every use.

• N95 & ASTM Level 3 Masks

The beautiful smiles of our clinical team — dentists, hygienists, and assistants — will be protected behind double-masking at all times.

• Front Desk Masks

Even our friendly administrative team will be wearing ASTM Level 3 masks. Don’t worry. They are smiling behind those masks!

• Face Shields

Two masks are not enough. Our clinical team will also protect you and themselves through the use of FDA-approved PET face shields.

• Disposable, Protective Coats & Hats

When appropriate, our team will utilize another layer of protection to minimize the spread or absorption of airborne particles.

• Shoe Coverings

From head to toe, we are doing everything possible to stop the absorption and spread of dangerous particles. This includes covering our shoes.

• Negative Pressure Rooms

Normally found in high-tech laboratories and medical centers, these rooms provide the highest levels of self-containment and climate control.

• HEPA Air Filtration

Our air has never been cleaner. We have added HEPA-grade air cleaners to the HVAC.

• No Magazines or Activities

This may make our reception area a little less exciting, but it makes it much safer as well.

• Installed Clear Barriers

Hard plastic guards have been placed strategically throughout the practice — and are cleaned regularly — to help block the movement of airborne particles.