We want you to know that even now, we are still here for you and your family. We are committed to the health and safety of our patients, staff, families, and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As restrictions begin to lift, we are taking all of the necessary precautions to best protect our patients, staff, and doctors during this time. We remain dedicated to providing your child with high-quality care while still following the CDC guidelines. Our staff has undergone training and education on the importance of hygiene, facemasks, protective gear, and etiquette. We routinely clean and sterilize all surfaces, supplies, equipment, and tools within our office because when you walk into any healthcare facility, you should feel confident that you are in a safe and clean environment.
We have placed these additional safety measures to help limit contact with others so that your visit can be a safe and healthy one.
Practices in Place
Before You Arrive
Prior to the appointment, you will be asked to fill out a pre-screening questionnaire for both yourself and your child. This enables us to conduct a rough check of your health status and includes questions about recent coughs, fever, or potential contact with people who have been infected with COVID-19. You may be asked to complete this before scheduling an appointment and upon your arrival, in case your answers may have changed.
It is important to note that even with the pandemic, do not skip routine well-checks, cleanings, or exams. We will do our part to make the experience as safe as possible, but it is important for your child to receive care as needed and when scheduled as delays could lead to worsening symptoms or the progression of an underlying condition.
If your child requires special attention or if you are worried our new protocols may stress your child, please reach out to our office so that we can discuss your child’s care options.
We would also like to inform our patients that we are limiting the number of people allowed in our office at a time to reduce the number of interactions between staff and patients.
Upon Arrival
Once you arrive at our office, a nurse will likely take your temperature. Depending on our current restrictions, you may be asked to wait in your car or outside after check-in until your room is ready.
If allowed in our waiting room, please continue to wear your mask until you are seated in the dental office and told to remove your mask. You may notice that magazines and commonly touched surfaces have been removed and signs placed on chairs and tables for social distancing purposes. Sanitizer is also available for your use.
During Your Appointment
Once you’re in the dental chair, you may notice some changes. We are currently asking patients to do a pre-procedural rinse, a mixture of diluted hydrogen peroxide or iodine, to reduce the level of oral microorganisms present in your mouth and upper throat. It is important to note that these oral rinses are specially formulated for dental use and should only be used in a medical setting.
Our staff members may also wear different face shields, gowns, and goggles than previous appointments to help protect against and prevent the spread of germs and contamination.
After You Leave
After each appointment, surfaces are disinfected with hospital-grade cleaners, and tools are sterilized after each use. Air filters are also placed throughout the office to increase ventilation and help to keep the air clean and safe for your visit.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives and this includes your child’s dental visits. However, even with the pandemic, it is important your child attends their routine exams and cleanings as delaying dental care poses risk to their long-term oral health. Children can’t always point to where it hurts or tell us how they feel so it is our job as caregivers to look out on their behalf. We take pride in our safety precautions so that you and your family can be as safe as possible. For more information on our safety measures or to schedule an appointment, contact Children’s Dentistry of San Diego today.
