What Can I Expect When I Come for My Dental Appointment?
Gordon Center for General & Advanced Dentistry has been open since May and seeing patients! Our staff and their families have remained healthy, and there have been no confirmed cases of transmission at any dental office nationwide. Here’s an overview of our COVID safety protocols:
Social Distancing Measures
We have instituted a texting program that allows patients to stay in their car when they arrive. Patients will call or text Billie. They will be notified by calling or texting when the treatment room is ready. They can expect to be greeted at the front of the office by a staff member. Temperatures will be taken with a touchless thermometer. Patients will then be taken directly back to their treatment room.
Patients must wear a mask in the office per Gov. Hogan’s executive order. Patients should come with their own masks, but if they do not have one, we will have a limited supply at the front desk.
At this time, non-patients coming with patients are limited to ONE necessary guardian.
Protective Measures
All doctors, assistants, and hygienists wear enhanced levels of PPE. This includes the use of face shields, N95 masks, scrubs with outer lab coats changed between patients, and HEPA filter machines that filter the air. We have one in each operatory and one much larger one at both the front and back of the office. Dentistry in the past was concerned with preventing blood borne pathogens. Now, we are additionally focused on airborne pathogens.
Standards of Cleanliness
We completely repainted and re-carpeted the office. A new level of cleanliness and cleaning procedures will become a new way of life, so we decided the best way was to start fresh with the surroundings. HEPA filters are now in each treatment room with larger ones in the front door area and in the back of the office. Hand sanitizer is available at the front desk and in common areas.
A Touchless Thermometer
At least in the near term, temperatures will be taken with a touchless thermometer on all patients before a dental procedure is started.
A Questionnaire
All patients will be asked a new set of questions when confirming over the phone and upon arrival to the office. These will include questions like …”Have you or anyone in your household had symptoms of COVID19 in the past 2 weeks?” and “Have you developed a cough in the past 2 weeks?” Patients who answer yes to any of the screening questions will be asked to reschedule their appointment.
The Same Team
We would like you to know that everyone who works at GCGAD was kept on full salary when the office was closed in early spring. Our dedicated professionals–Billie, Tina, Nila, Nicole, and Nicky received their full salary during the closure. No one was furloughed or fired. This was unique for the medical and dental community. We realize that our staff are dedicated people who help you receive the finest care in the country. We know they have bills to pay. So, we decided to use this gesture to say thank you for taking such good care of all of our patients.