JUNE 1st 2020:
COVID-19 INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR VISIT:
Please read all the instructions below to help prepare you for your visit:
We are excited to welcome you back as we safely reopen following guidelines from the CDC, OSHA, American Dental Association, CDA, and the San Diego Department of Health. The dental profession has always followed exceptional infection control measures per OSHA guidelines. We have regular mandatory training on infection control which our providers are all required to do. Additionally, we now have implemented extra measures for the safety of our patients, team, and community given these unique circumstances. Some of those safety measures will be to schedule more time in between patients and we will only be seeing one patient at a time.
Appointment availability will be limited as we reopen due to high demand and having to space out appointments between patients for increased safety measures. Please note your appointment time has been reserved just for you and you will be the only patient in the office at that time. It is important that you make every effort to make it in to your reserved appointment time or 10 minutes earlier if possible. There will be a $25 cancellation fee for missed appointments which will be waived for illness. If you are 10 minutes late we may automatically cancel your appointment as we need to abide by physical distancing guidelines since we do not want overlap of patients.
The safety of our patients, team members,and community is of highest importance to us. If you are feeling sick, have tested positive for COVID-19, exhibit any symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, chills, GI issues, or loss of taste/smell or have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 please call us immediately to cancel. We will call you prior to your appointment to review detailed screening questions and new protocols for when you’re in the office. You will be asked these same screening questions upon check in to make sure we have the most up to date information. Our team will also be screened daily for temperature and oxygen saturation levels, anyone exhibiting any symptoms of illness will be sent home.
As we continue to follow physical distancing guidelines to keep everyone safe, our lobby is no longer a waiting room. Our door will remain locked and we are not accepting walk-ins at the moment. We will ask you to stay in your car until we are ready to bring you back and we will call your cell from the office phone once we’re ready. You may text us to let us know you have parked. Masks are required to enter the building. Please do not bring any friends or family members with you to your appointment as they will be asked to wait outside. The only exception to this is for the parent of a minor child patient if the child has an appointment.
We are advising anyone who is in the CDC “high risk” group such as those over 60 years old or those who are immunocompromised to schedule their appointment as the first one of the day.
As a courtesy to our loyal patients who are enrolled in our office’s Membership Plans, anyone whose Membership Plan expired March 15th 2020 to July 15th 2020 will be extended until August 31, 2020.
Per ADA Code D1999, there will be a temporary COVID-19 Facility Infection Control/PPE fee of $10 which your insurance company may or may not cover. This is due to the increased amount of time involved per visit and visit preparation, increased cost of PPE due to global supply and demand issues, more frequent added infection control measures and spacing out appointments for increased safety. If your treatment involves multiple visits we will absorb the cost at any following visits. Please let us know if you would like to purchase any Fluoridex toothpaste, Opalescence Go whitening kit, or Peridex mouthwash prior to your visit. We are also offering curbside pickup.We encourage pre-payment over the phone prior to your visit to limit in person contact the day of given the current situation.
We require you to wear a mask when you come in and only take it off for your treatment. You will be given hand sanitizer to use upon entry and you will be asked the same screening questions upon check in as we asked prior to your visit. Your temperature will be taken with a non touch forehead thermometer to check for fever and your oxygen saturation will be checked via pulse oximeter on your finger. Once cleared, you will be brought straight back to your room. Please do not come in wearing gloves. Please do not bring any trash to dispose of in the office such as coffee cups or food. If you have recently traveled, we advise you to wait 3 weeks before scheduling.
We strongly encourage you to continue practicing good health and safety measures from now until your appointment to prevent cancellation.
To prevent delays and for a smoother check in process, please let us know ahead of time if there have been any changes to your insurance, if you have used your insurance benefits at another office this year, and if there are any changes to your contact info or medical history.
Thank you for your cooperation!