The COVID-19 Pandemic: An Important Message for Our Patients

Dear Patient,

Like many communities throughout the United States, ours has been through a lot in 2020. Recognizing our patients as our Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence family has perhaps never meant more than it does now. This is a year we will remember and talk about for decades to come. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will get through this, and most importantly, we will do it together.

Patient Care Has Resumed

Our team is pleased to inform patients that COVID-19-related restrictions are no longer in effect and that our practice is open and fully operational. We are scheduling new appointments and able to see patients for checkups, cleanings, and treatments that were previously scheduled. While the coronavirus pandemic has altered many facets of our lives, some things will never change, and that includes our commitment to the health and safety of you and your family. Rest assured that strict disinfection and sterilization protocols have always been in place here at Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence. Nevertheless, we implemented additional hygiene and sanitation protocols, and we have adhered to all of the guidelines set forth by the Arizona Dental Association (AzDA), American Dental Association (ADA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The protocols in place at our office include:

• Regular screening of patients, doctors, and staff through the use of a forehead thermometer.
• Thorough and regular hand washing and sanitizing for all team members.
• Disinfection and sterilization of operatories, equipment, and environmental surfaces. We do this between each patient and employ professional cleaning materials and procedures.
• The use of personal protective equipment by team members in clinical spaces at all times. This PPE varies by procedure and includes face masks, gloves, eye protection, gowns, and so forth.
• The use of barriers for practically every surface that the doctor and his staff touch. This includes keyboards, computer mice, bib holders, handpieces, X-ray equipment, suctions for lights, and so on, and such barriers are discarded and replaced between each and every patient.
• Reventing aerosol transmission from room to room. We do this by sealing operatories where aerosol-producing procedures may be performed and through the use of a double-strength suction system that protects respiratory health by significantly reducing aerosol and particle dispersion.
• Medical-grade HEPA filters are used in all operatories in order to eliminate harmful airborne microbes, such as bacteria, germs, and viruses. Coupled with our other protective hygiene measures, HEPA air filtration ensures a safe and healthy breathing environment by preventing the dispersal of aerosols and other biological contaminants. The air purification we use removes 99.97 percent of all particulates down to 0.003 microns, which is smaller than a virus and many times smaller than what a standard HEPA filter can extract.
• Comprehensive high-level training on all of these protocols for all doctors, hygienists, and other staff.

Preventing coronavirus infection has to be a team effort, and that team includes our patients. We implore all patients to assist in these efforts by self-screening for COVID-19. In order to protect our staff and other patients, we ask that you not visit our office and cancel any appointment if you have:

• Experienced a fever within the previous 14 days.
• Shortness of breath, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, sore throat, rash, or respiratory infection.
• Traveled outside the U.S. in the previous 14 days.
• Had contact with any person who may have or have been in contact with COVID-19.

For all patients that are able to visit our office, we ask that you:

• Wear a mask prior to entering our office and continue wearing it aside from when we ask you to remove it.
• Use the hand sanitizer we have made available to you when entering the office, restrooms, and operatories.
• Do your best not to touch your face.
• Maintain social distancing—6 feet between people—in all of our common areas.
• Move around the building and interact with others only as much as is required.
• Not be accompanied by others. Only patients with a scheduled appointment should enter the office.
• Complete the symptoms survey and have your temperature taken as a first step.
• Swish with hydroxyl—an antiseptic solution—as a second step. We will provide the hydroxyl to you in order to disinfect your mouth and minimize the spread of potentially dangerous microbes.

Let’s Be Safe and Healthy Together

The COVID-19 pandemic is no reason to forgo dental care. Your oral health is key to your overall well-being, and we want to continue providing you the highest level of care possible no matter the external challenges. Nevertheless, we want to do it in a manner that makes you confident and comfortable. Toward that end, we have not only implemented AzDA-recommended protocols but have gone above and beyond. Your health and safety are a top priority for Dr. Clark and his entire team, and you should never expect anything less from Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence. If you have any questions about your visit or our COVID protocols or want to schedule an appointment, we encourage you to call us at 480 585 1853.

Final Thoughts

For many of us, the pandemic has been a major disruption to our daily lives. But we are acutely aware that there are those in our community that have lost loved ones, are dealing with historic financial hardship, and have given of themselves greatly in the battle against this disease. We also want to thank our doctors and nurses, our other frontline workers, and our essential workers. To our readers, we hope that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health and that you continue to stay safe. We will get through this together as a community, and we look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Clark, DDS, and Staff
Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence

You can view the most recent updates and resources posted by the Arizona Dental Association by visiting their website here: https://www.azda.org/news/2020/03/16/urgent-covid-19-(coronavirus)-updates