COVID-19 Message
Message for Our Patients
What to Expect When Returning to Our Dental Office
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things about our day to day lives, including dental appointments. Your health and safety are most important. Every concern of yours, we have also had. We have reviewed the expert guidance to be sure that every measure to keep you safe has been implemented. Here is what you can expect when you visit our office.
We understand that California lifted its mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals on June 15, however, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that face coverings are still required in health care settings, including dental offices, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
We thank you for your cooperation and support to provide a safe environment for our patients and dental team during this time.
Before your appointment:
Our team will call you to ask some health related questions before your scheduled visit. They will review over the phone what to expect when you visit the office.
You will be asked to come unaccompanied unless you need assistance from a caregiver or are accompanying a minor to their appointment.
Our turnover time after each visit takes a little longer. Should we run unexpectedly tardy for your appointment due to additional sanitation measures please bear with us.
At your appointment:
We will ask you to arrive with a facemask on as you enter the building and office.
There is hand sanitizer in the lobby, parking garage, and in our office.
Our front door is open to the office to enter the waiting room.
You will find chairs distanced appropriately in the waiting room as well as in the hallway. We have placed hepa air filters throughout the office.
Please space appropriately when waiting for the front desk to address your needs and check in.
Once it is your turn you will find a plexiglass barrier to separate you from our staff up front. The front office staff will again ask you screening questions and take your temperature. No one will be allowed into the office with a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
High touch items like toys, magazines and dental pamphlets have been removed from the waiting room.
Entering the back office/operatories:
The dental team will be wearing additional protective disposable equipment, including masks, face shields, goggles, surgical gowns, and gloves.
Before you sit in the dental chair we may ask you to do a prerinse with a mouthrinse, and use handsanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water.
The patient operatory chairs have 9 feet between them with a partition between them
You then will be asked to remove your facemask for your appointment to commence.
At the end of the appointment your are welcome to use hand sanitizer and or wash your hands with soap and water, and please place your face mask on before leaving your dental operatory.
Should you experience symptoms of COVID-19 within 2 days and up to fourteen days after your appointment, please call us and inform the office staff so we may test our staff as needed for their and other’s safety.
Schedule your next appointment on your way out. Your oral health is connected to your overall health, so one of the many ways you can stay healthy during these times is to keep up with regular dental care. We are here for you.
We want you to feel comfortable. Please contact us should you have any unaddressed concerns. See you soon.
Drs. Hale and Staff
(310) 453-9631
frontoffice@sbhaledds.com
