We are pleased to announce that our office is open and operating under the strict recommendations from the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Pennsylvania Dental Association.
First, I want to assure you that the clinical treatment areas are being handled with exactly the same sterilization techniques that have always been in place. All instruments are steam autoclaved and the autoclaves are tested each week. All surfaces in the dental treatment rooms are disinfected according to CDC guidelines. We are now using an improved surface disinfectant that will kill viruses in 30 seconds and have installed multiple HEPA air purifiers in each treatment room. Areas in the treatment rooms that are touched during dental procedures are additionally wrapped with barrier protection that is discarded and renewed between patients.
We have instituted additional measures in all non-treatment areas. 1) We have removed all magazines and brochures from the waiting room and reduced seating capacity in the waiting area to space chairs six feet apart. 2) Patients are being brought to the treatment rooms upon arrival when possible. 3) We have installed HEPA air purifiers with UV-C sterilization between each patient chair. 4) All waiting area surfaces (including chair arm rests) are disinfected between after each patient use..
We will not allow any employee or patient to present to the office with any signs of illness. We are specifically concerned with fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath. Anyone who has traveled out of the country or who has been around anyone who has been ill will not be appointed until after a 14 day waiting . All of our staff are monitored daily with a temporal thermometer and we’re requesting the same from all our patients as they enter the office.
We are asking that all our patients call the office upon arriving in the parking lot and, as required, we are asking each appointed patient standard COVID-19 screening questions. We require each patient to wear a mask and knock before entering the office. To ensure adequate time for cleaning and sterilization, we are spacing out our appointments. This will also limit the number of patients in the office at any one time.
Please feel free to call our office with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to seeing you soon!