Dear Patient:
We hope this message finds you safe and healthy as we all collectively do our best to navigate the COVID-19 health crisis. Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout these challenging times. Because the health and safety of our patients and community is paramount, it has been necessary to limit our patient care to urgent and emergency care over these last few months.
As we have closely followed recommendations from the North Carolina Dental Board, CDC, and other reputable health organizations, we recognize the importance of regional-specific guidance based on the most comprehensive, accurate, and current scientific literature and data available. While community guidelines may continue to evolve, we must continue to make our treatment decisions based on the best knowledge available. It is our job to help improve the health of our patients by approaching comprehensive dental treatment PROACTIVELY, not just reacting after the compromise has become irreversible in nature.
With this in mind, we have made the decision to safely reopen our doors to ALL PATIENTS beginning Monday, May 11th. This means routine dental care, such as cleanings and simple restorations, will resume. When you come to our office you will notice the following elevated measures and precautions that we believe are necessary to maintain until we emerge from this COVID-19 environment (and likely thereafter):
- Sanitation stations in the front desk/waiting area
- Anti-microbial Hydrogen Peroxide mouth rinses before the start of each appointment
- Hi-Evacuation suction for hygiene appointments to minimize cavitron-related aerosols
- Patient entrance doors will remain open to reduce contact
- Mandatory pre-screening questionnaire over the phone when appointments are confirmed and upon arrival to the office, in addition to temperature checks of ALL STAFF and PATIENTS
- Patients will wait in their vehicles until their appointment begins
- Limited access to patient waiting areas and operatories whenever possible (e.g. restricted to patients, parents of young children, translators, service animals, special needs assistance, etc.)
- Enhanced social distancing measures throughout the office
This is not the first crisis that we have endured as a state or as a nation, and we look forward to overcoming this event better, stronger and more resilient than ever before. We cannot thank you enough for trusting us with your oral health. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns, and let us know if there is anything we can do to better serve you.
Sincerely,
Royal Oak Dental Group
