Covid-19 Reopening Measures

Infection control has ALWAYS been a top priority for us. Please be assured that we have met and exceeded newly published dental safety guidelines as they relate to COVID-19. In addition to our regular infection control policies, we have made the following additions:

1. Every room in the practice has been upgraded with one (1) UV Air Sanitizer (featuring ozone-free technology) that utilizes ultraviolet lamp technology to kill up to 99.9% of airborne viruses, bacteria, black mold and fungal growth, and reduces odors and respiratory allergens. This reduces airborne transmission of viruses, influenza, and colds.
2. Every room in the practice has also been upgraded with one (1) air purifier with a HEPA Filter that also has UV-C light technology. This air purifier is capable of performing at least 16 air exchanges per hour in each of our rooms. That means, that every molecule of air in the room goes through the HEPA filter and UV-C light at least sixteen times an hour. According to the CDC, that means 99.9% of the airborne contaminants from the air gets removed within 28 minutes or less. Each of our patient rooms will be closed for disinfection for 35 minutes after the patient is dismissed from the room to allow for proper disinfection (well above CDC’s recommendations). These HEPA purifiers will be running 24-7 to maximize your protection.
3. After each patient is dismissed from the room, the room is wiped down and then an additional standalone commercial grade, ozone-free, UV room sanitizer is placed into the room to further disinfect the surfaces and air using UV energy.
   1. To monitor disinfection, a YELLOW color UV test label is placed in several
      strategic locations through out the patient room before the ozone-free UV room sanitizer is activated.
   2. The yellow UV test label turns a GREEN color to provide visual confirmation that sufficient amount UV energy has been applied to safely disinfect surrounding surfaces and air.

Please call our office, go to our website and request an appointment or email us at info@drmichelledds.com.

If you had an appointment that was cancelled during the shutdown, as we ramp-up we’ll contact you to reschedule.

If you have an upcoming appointment, since we’re restarting in a controlled manner, we might need to make modifications to the schedule and will be in contact to either confirm or reschedule.

If you have an emergency or urgent situation, please contact our office A member of our team will call or email you to schedule.

Please make sure you brush your child’s teeth prior to your appointment.  It’s also a great idea to review the videos we are posting on this page so they know what to expect with regard to COVID-19 procedures.  Getting comfortable with everything from temperature checks to the personal protection equipment our staff must wear will make them more comfortable.

We will contact you the day before your appointment to ask some screening questions. These screening questions must be completed by noon the day before your appointment. If we can not reach you, we will leave a message. If we do not hear from you, the appointment will be cancelled. Cancellation fees may be applied.

Please bear with us as you’ll be asked those same questions again the day of your appointment when you arrive to the building, prior to entering our office.

Unfortunately, no. You may see that as cool as our waiting room is, our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys, and so forth since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. In fact, to limit the number of patients in the common areas, we will ask you to wait in your car or outside the office if you arrive early to your appointment. We will call and text you when you can come in (please make sure you don’t forget your smart phone at home!). We will only allow the child who has an appointment to come in. Please do not bring siblings or friends, if not scheduled.

We ask that you enter the building wearing a face covering/mask. If your child is over the age of 2, we ask that they wear a mask as well. An assistant will be waiting outside the door of the office to take both your and your child’s temperature. When you enter the suite, you will see hand sanitizer at the door. Your child and you will be asked to sanitize your hands for twenty seconds. (Yes, with a song and dance, please).

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between families. Please understand, that might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. Also there must be a legal guardian present for all appointments (One parent or legal guardian, per family, please). Again, we will only allow the child who has an appointment to come in. Please do not bring siblings or friends, if not scheduled.

As mentioned, our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys, and so forth since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. After checking in, a member of our team will escort you and your child to a patient room. Please have your smart phone with you. Our office is now completely paperless, to maximize the time your child is seen and minimize the check-in and check-out time.

Yes, every morning, when entering the suite, the whole team goes through Employee Screening for Covid-19. This includes taking temperatures, reviewing symptoms, and if any of the employees answer “yes” to any of the questions, they are asked to go home immediately.

Regarding our team, we may look “a little different.” The assistant greeting you will be wearing a mask, face shield, and a protective jacket. The front desk will be wearing masks and face shields over their masks. The clinical team will also be in proper PPE. Please refer to our website, prior to your appointment to see videos of our PPE. We can email photos of us to you in advance of the appointment so that your children (and you!) are prepared for the changes. We will do our best to keep this a positive experience for your children!

Yes. In fact, we want you to be in the room (even if your child is a teenager and off to college!). Your child and you will be escorted by a member of our team into the treatment room. Once in the room, your child will be asked to wash their hands, and rinse their mouth with a hydrogen peroxide mouth wash. We will dilute with natural flavor as needed. This is for the safety of your child and the team.

Yes, please call our front desk and they will assist in coordinating a telemedicine consult with the doctor.

All payment will be collected through your smart phone.

Before you leave the patient room, your next appointment will be scheduled. If needed, after your appointment is over and you have left the office, we will reach out to you using text, email, or phone call, depending on your preference. Again, our goal is to minimize the time you are spending in the waiting area so other patients can be brought in.