AdVance Dental would like to update you about our operations and how it is being affected by the coronavirus.
In keeping with guidelines issued at both the national and state levels, we are currently delaying all elective dental procedures until at least mid-April. However, we are open in a limited capacity to deal with dental emergencies. This is being done as both a service to our patients, and also as a service to our community to keep our hospital emergency rooms being flooded with dental issues.
Dental needs during this time will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Treatment may consist of a phone conversation, referral to a specialist, or treatment in the office depending on the situation.
We are making every effort to keep infection risk to a minimum, including but not limited to the following:
- Propping the doors to the office and clinical area open so they don’t have to be touched by anyone entering or exiting the office.
- All magazines, the coffee machine, and half the chairs have been temporarily removed from the waiting room. While chairs are still available, we ask if at all possible to come alone and have anyone that comes with you wait in the car/outside the office. Exceptions to this of course would include if you have a child with you or someone that requires constant supervision. All waiting rooms chairs that are used are wiped down afterwards.
- We will screen all potential emergency patients over the phone. If any flu-like symptoms are present or any suspected expected exposure to someone with confirmed COVID-19 has occurred, we will ask that those people be tested for coronavirus and be confirmed negative prior to entering the office.
- Upon entering the office, we will have everyone wash their hands and fill out a screening form to confirm no flu-like symptoms and/or exposure to someone with coronavirus, or recent travel to a high risk area.
- We are having all emergency patients rinse with a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution for 30 seconds prior to examination. This may temporarily reduce the amount of virus present in saliva in case someone is a carrier.
- As always, treatment rooms are being thoroughly cleaned between patients, and we are also staggering the use of our rooms as to give our disinfecting agents longer times to kill any potential pathogens.
The guidelines are being updated frequently, so we will update you on this situation as it develops. If you need us, call us at (205) 250-6813.
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