Dear Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in great health. While many things have changed with COVID-19, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety and infection control as the paramount for our dental practice. Here are the steps we are taking:

Updated Scheduling Process

• An updated scheduling process to ensure social distancing in our waiting areas will be followed where visitors to the facility will be limited to only those essential for the patient's physical or emotional well-being and care.

Patient and Visitor Safety

• All patients and visitors are required to wear a facemask or cloth face covering while in the facility, to perform frequent hand hygiene, and to restrict their visit to the patient's room or other areas designated within the facility.

Staff and Patient Screening

• We assess each patient and staff member's risk for infection with a questionnaire upon entry to our offices. If you, anyone in your family, or anyone you have been in contact with is experiencing fever, respiratory symptoms or shortness of breath or has tested positive for COVID-19, please notify us before coming to the office.

Strict Hand Hygiene

• All patients, visitors and staff will be required to follow strict guidelines for hand hygiene.
• We will request everyone entering the office to wash their hands after check-in to go above and beyond.

Personal Protective Equipment

• The surgical & front desk team will wear N95/KN95 masks along with the CDC recommended personal protective equipment during surgical procedures.
• Above and beyond, our staff will use facial screens, eye safety glasses and shoe covers (which will be provided to all patients).

Updated Cleaning Protocols for Patient and Visitor Areas

• Non-dedicated and non-disposable equipment (e.g. handpieces, dental x-ray equipment, dental chair and light) will continue to be disinfected according to manufacturer's and CDC's instructions. As always, handpieces will be cleaned, followed by heat-sterilization after each patient as per manufacturer's guidelines.
• Cleaning and disinfection procedures using EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant will be performed in clinical areas between each patient and to frequently touched surfaces or objects through the office. Surfaces such as door handles, chairs, desks, and bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently. 
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, beverages, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect and patient waiting area will be reserved for you only.

Our infection control processes are made so that we go above and beyond the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Dental Association (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.

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. Our office manager will reach out to you to make an appointment. Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely, Dr. Maria Shahdad, DDS and Team