We're happy to announce that our office has reopened to treat all our patients. Thank you so much for your support during this difficult time. We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few 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.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, and you will have noted this during your visits in our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practices to keep patients and our team safe.
Our office exceeds the recommendations made by the American Dental Association, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up to date on any new rulings or guidelines that are issued.
You will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect you and our team. For example:
Our office will communicate with you by phone as well as by text or email to ask screening questions which are on the website. You will be asked those same questions when you are in the office.
You will be instructed to notify us when you arrive for your appointment so that we may follow social distancing guidelines. If possible, please wait in your car until we call you into the office.
You are required to wear a mask when you are in our office or on our campus. Upon entering the office, you will be asked to sanitize your hands, and have your temperature and oxygenation level recorded. Hand sanitizer will be available in different areas for your use in the office.
You may see that our reception area will be cleared of magazines, beverage stations, and toys since those items are difficult to disinfect.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
We will allow greater 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.
Our office has added, as additional safety precautions: UV Air Filtration systems, External Evacuation Systems with HEPA and ULPA (virus) filters, touchless credit card processing (including Apple Pay), and Electrostatic Sprayers (Foggers), all of which are currently in use in the hospital and airplane industries in order to disinfect surfaces and the air. All of these can be viewed on our website and Facebook pages. These precautions take extra time and energy, so we have added a sterilization specialist to our team.
Some of you received a letter regarding our change in status as a preferred provider on insurance plans. While we still bill and accept assignment on your behalf, several insurance companies will issue a check directly to you, instead of to our office. You may call our office if you need additional clarification in those instances.
Please note that as a result of COVID-19, we have updated some of our daily procedures. You'll still receive the same great service from our dedicated team, however to ensure the safety of all our patients at the highest level, we will ask you to fill out the CoVid form now, and update your medical history or any insurance changes through our website, yearly.
Again, thank you so much for your support. We're happy to continue serving you, and can't wait to see your smile!
Sincerely,
Your dental family at the Center for Dentistry and Oral Wellness
