Coronavirus Safety Protocols

Out of an abundance of caution until a vaccine or more prevalent testing for the Coronavirus can be performed, we are changing our policies and protocols to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to our patients and staff. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

New Safety Measures

Studies have shown that the virus can remain active in the air for as long as 3 hours. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that infected individuals with no symptoms can also potentially spread the virus (click here for more details). Since some of our procedures can aerosolize the virus, we are taking the following additional precautions:

  • We are using UV-C (Ultraviolet C-Band) Germicide HEPA air filters set on maximum filtration throughout the office to purify and disinfect the air.
  • We are continuously circulating outside air through MERV 13 filters which brings in purified fresh air to improve air flow throughout the office.
  • In addition to our usual medical-grade disinfectants, we are using HOCL (Hypochlorous Acid) to disinfect surfaces and the air after aerosol generating procedures between patients. We disinfect the air using an using an ultra-low volume fogger. HOCL is widely used in the food preparation and hospitality industries as a disinfectant because it is 80 times more effective at killing viruses than chlorine bleach (kills germs within 1 second of contact) while still being safe for humans.
  • We wipe down surfaces and disinfect more frequently throughout the day.
  • We have removed all non-essential items like books, maganizes, and toys in the reception area to allow us to better disinfect surfaces.
  • We have replaced our faucets and soap dispensers with touchless versions to minimize cross-contamination between users.

Scheduling

To promote social distancing, we are limiting the number of patients in our office at any given time. Patients and/or their parents should observe the following:

  • If you are an adult patient, please do not have anyone accompany you to your appointments. If you do have a guest, then please have them wait for you in your car or outside the office. For more details on what to expect, please see our Appointment Protocol for Adults.
  • If the patient is a minor, then, at most, one parent or guardian may accompany the patient to their appointment. For more details on what to expect during your child's visit, please see our Appointment Protocol for Children.
  • Only patients are allowed in treatment areas. If you a parent or guardian waiting for your child, then we ask that you stay in the reception area, or even better, wait in your car for the duration of the appointment. We can call you with updates on your child's progress, what procedure was performed that day, and to schedule your child's next appointment.
  • If you, your child, or any member of your family has been tested positive for the Coronavirus, then please reschedule your appointment at least 14 days after you get your results. If you are currently waiting the results of a test, then please reschedule your appointment after you get your results.
  • If you or your child is ill with any respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath) or fever, then please reschedule your appointment at least 14 days in the future.

Patient Protocols

We want to minimize your time and/or your child's time in the office while still promoting great oral hygiene. To that end, we ask that all patients:

  • Please brush your teeth before coming to the office.
  • Please wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before you remove or replace any appliances like retainers or aligners in your mouth. You will have the opportunity to wash your hands at the office when you are seated for your appointment and also prior to leaving the treatment area.
  • If you have a loose or broken appliance, then please call us in advance so that we can properly prepare the necessary equipment and supplies to fix the issue. Failure to do so wlll result in having to schedule a separate appointment to resolve the problen.
  • Please do not consume any hot or cold beverages 15 minutes prior to your appointment because it may affect your body temperature reading which may result in your appointment being rescheduled.