Recently there was a statement released suggesting people not visit their dentist due to the risk of COVID-19. However, this statement was only referring to high-risk countries like the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, and DOES NOT apply to dentists in Canada.
We want to reassure you, we have implemented and exceeded all additional precaution recommendations from the following organizations: IPAC, RCDSO, CDHO, ODNAA, WHO, CDC, and Public Health Canada.
Dear Rayburn Dental Family,
After 2 months we have opened our doors and we are all enthusiastic to be back to work. Our official first day back was May 19, 2020, and our administrative staff has been calling patients to rebook their missed appointments.
If there are patients in a higher risk category please mention this pertinent information to our staff and we will do our best to accommodate you during minimal traffic appointment times.
Covid-19 has been on all of our minds for months and now that it is time to begin our journey back to normalcy we will do it with a healthy dose of caution. We will ease back into things by focusing on dental restorations only and re-introduce hygiene visits in subsequent weeks. We know there are still some reservations about going anywhere in public including the dental office. However, now is a more important time than ever due to the significant connection between oral health and total body health. As a result, we realize the importance of making sure everything that can be done is being done.
We have been undergoing modifications to make your next visits safer and more efficient. Before Covid-19 we already had a rigorous infection control protocol. After Covid-19 we will be taking further safety precautions to eliminate any risks to our patients and our staff. We would like our Rayburn Dental Family to be aware of the changes we have made to mitigate any extra risk posed by the virus:
We have added air filtration units with Hepa Filters that clean the air in each operatory every 2 minutes. These filters remove 99.95% of all microbes as small as 0.03 microns and filter out essentially all bacteria and viruses including Covid-19.
In addition to our regular methods, we have also added new high-volume suctions to decrease the amount of aerosols that are even allowed to escape the mouth to further reduce any risks. This new high-volume suction has been shown to remove up to 90% of all aerosols.
For every patient, we will be doing a screening (during booking and at arrival) and asking all symptomatic patients to stay at home to avoid any risks. We will continue to ask patients to wait in their vehicles when they arrive until their room is ready at which time we will call to have them come straight in. Also, we ask that all patients who are able to come alone to exemplify proper distancing in the waiting rooms. We will be regularly wiping down the common areas throughout the day. Every patient arriving will have their temperature taken, asked to sanitize their hands and they will be given a strong antimicrobial rinse to further lower the contamination risk.
To protect our staff and avoid further cross contamination risk we will be wearing gowns, face protection and hair nets for certain higher risk procedures so please do not be alarmed when someone who looks like a bee keeper greets you.
Our staff has undergone extensive training on extra protocols, appropriate donning and doffing, and strict workflow management. Daily, each staff member will be filling out a Covid-19 clearance form prior to entering the workplace. In addition, temperature readings will be measured upon arrival. It is of utmost importance that each team member is healthy to alleviate any of your concerns.
Appointments will be managed to allow for more social distancing between patients. Unfortunately, that may mean that initially you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
As we continue to adapt to the new guidelines and new information about the virus we ask for your continued patience. Your safety and the safety of our staff are our top priority and we will not put either at risk. There will undoubtedly be some small road bumps as we make our way through this together.
We also want to thank you all for your kind words and support throughout all of this. We have been reminded how lucky we are to have you all as patients. It has been a trying time but we have also learned a tremendous amount about ourselves, our connection to the community, and how we can best serve our city. Covid-19 reinforces the strong focus we have put on the importance of health and the connection between your mouth and the rest of your body.
Thank you all again and please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you all again and remember to continue to physically distance but socially connect.
*There may be a routine fee of $15 added to your appointment cost due to the additional protection worn during certain high risk appointments.