My Dentist Is Opening

amother

Wed, May 13 2020, 10:37 pm

K/H I hope I don't need dental care as I would still like to avoid medical buildings but my dentist is reopening and has emailed his new procedures. He was always open for emergencies during the pandemic but now it is more or less back to normal with cleaning and prophylactic care commencing on June 1.

I am in Los Angeles and his waiting room is pretty spacious and not generally super crowded. There is a VERY small elevator Very Happy

and I will definitely not drink water if I must have an appointment because I would like to avoid public toilets whenever possible.

For those interested in terms of how he is opening, I am posting his email with identifying information redacted. His practice is already very rigorous in terms of cleanliness etc but obviously there are even more precautions. It looks as though they might have installed some form of plexiglass shields around the chairs the way they do now in the supermarkets Very Happy

To Our Dear Patients:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health.

Our community has been through a lot over the last two months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Our office follows infection control recommendations and protocols by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies, as well as the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for up-to-date rulings and guidance that may be issued.

According to these agencies and with strict adherence to their guidance, our office will re-open on Monday, May 18th. In addition to dental emergencies, priority will be given to treatment previously postponed and for those conditions that are likely to lead to dental emergencies if treatment is not provided. Hygiene appointments and preventive care will resume on June 1st, 2020.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about our additional infection control protocols that we are undertaking in our practice to keep you and our staff safe:

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office and we will measure your temperature.

Please arrive at the office wearing a mask.

We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

Once escorted to your treatment room, we kindly ask you to thoroughly wash your hands.

Our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

We allow longer time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.

We have implemented new protocols for disinfection and sterilization of the operation rooms, before, during and in between patients.

Our office and operation rooms are properly air conditioned and ventilated with HEPA compliant filters, as well as window fans to create outward air flow and constantly refreshing the rooms.

We have installed additional equipment chairside, providing better isolation and elimination of airborne particles for the safety of our patients and our staff.

Two additional medical grade air-purifiers, strategically placed in the office, to help in reducing air borne pathogens throughout the office.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we are taking to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.

To make an appointment, please call our office at xxxxxxx

Thank you for being our patient, neighbor and friend. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back to our office.

giselle

Wed, May 13 2020, 10:39 pm

I have no idea if this is wise of him or not, but it certainly makes me optimistic that the world is opening up!

amother

Coral

Wed, May 13 2020, 11:06 pm

I don’t understand how this is newsy. My kid had a routine dental appt next week. She had a well child visit in March. I’ve been seeing my doctors (OB, MFM, endocrinology) throughout. We are in NYC btw.

amother

Wed, May 13 2020, 11:08 pm

amother [ Coral ] wrote:

Almost all dental offices have been closed except for emergencies so at least where I am located, reopening was just permitted. They were required to close EXCEPT for emergencies.

SuperWify

Wed, May 13 2020, 11:33 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Almost all dental offices have been closed except for emergencies so at least where I am located, reopening was just permitted. They were required to close EXCEPT for emergencies.

And yet the pot shops were open for business.

Go figure Can't Believe It

silverlining3

Thu, May 14 2020, 12:30 am

My little 5 year old is in pain and my dentist only does extractions now. No drilling whatsoever. Don't know what to do!!?! I see the big cavity

amother

Pewter

Thu, May 14 2020, 1:50 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Almost all dental offices have been closed except for emergencies so at least where I am located, reopening was just permitted. They were required to close EXCEPT for emergencies.

I guess you don’t live in LA😉
EVERYTHING is closed. My allergy shots are canceled. My kids pediatrician and dentist are closed.
I’m so happy to read this post!!! Giving me hope!

ETA this was meant to quote coral not OP

amother

Pewter

Thu, May 14 2020, 1:51 am

amother [ Coral ] wrote:

Sorry I meant to quote this one...

amother

Hotpink

Thu, May 14 2020, 1:54 am

Op...not fair.. I was getting excited. Im in NY Sad

Bruria

Thu, May 14 2020, 2:09 am

silverlining3 wrote:

My little 5 year old is in pain and my dentist only does extractions now. No drilling whatsoever. Don't know what to do!!?! I see the big cavity

This is an emergency, call another one that will do drilling.

amother

Seashell

Thu, May 14 2020, 2:20 am

silverlining3 wrote:

My little 5 year old is in pain and my dentist only does extractions now. No drilling whatsoever. Don't know what to do!!?! I see the big cavity

5 years old, big cavity and pain? It's a baby tooth so extraction isn't the worst idea (especially if its a back tooth and less visible).

silverlining3

Thu, May 21 2020, 8:43 am

Update. I was by the dentist this week with daughter, for advice on extracting. He put a temporary filling. Bh no complaining anymore. Hope it stays put till proper work can be done. So far they got no clue when they can reopen. N.Y.

amother

White

Thu, May 21 2020, 8:57 am

So great! Moving forward opening smartly!

If you are not comfortable and don't need to simply you don't have to go.