Re-Opening the Practice
Dear Patients and friends,
Eight weeks after our office closed for routine care, I am writing again to share some good news. The California Department of Public Health has given Dental Offices the green light to re-open our offices for preventative and routine care. With Sacramento County having a relatively low rate of per capita COVID infections, I feel confident that we can now safely and cleanly provide needed dental care to you, our valued patients.
As I wrote in my last letter, we have been very busy preparing for our return to practice. We have analyzed and improved our vacuum and HVAC systems for optimal clean air flow throughout our office. We have invested in multiple suction devices to remove extraneous aerosols created during procedures. We have procured and tested all recommended PPE, including n95 masks, face shields, surgical gowns and head coverings. While we certainly understand that personal levels of caution vary and you may not feel comfortable returning to our office at this time, please know that we have done everything possible to ensure a safe environment for our staff and patients.
We will begin to see patients for care on Wednesday, May 13th, but will start slowly at first, prioritizing those of you who have had to delay necessary work. Please be patient as we work to accommodate all previously canceled appointments AND keep up with pre-scheduled appointments in the coming months. Hygiene appointments (cleanings) will commence on Monday, May 18th. The staff and I are ready to work hard to get everyone smiling and healthy again! If you don’t hear from us soon and would like to schedule an appointment, please call the office, 916-966-4341 or email Jennifer, jp.shoredds@gmail.com.
If you have a scheduled appointment, expect to receive a phone call ahead of time to give you instructions on our new protocols. In order to allow for appropriate physical distancing, we ask that you call us when you arrive from your car or the building atrium. We will call or text you when we are ready to take you back to the clinical area. Only patients with appointments, parents of young children or caretakers of those with disabilities will be allowed into the office. We will be asking screening questions and taking temperatures. Please wear a mask or face covering when inside the office. If you do not have one, we will provide it. Like in most retain locations, we will have floor markings to stand on for proper distancing and plastic sneeze guards to provide protection while our staff checks you in and out of your appointment.
All of these new protocols take time and we will be working through the kinks as we go. Please be patient with us as we work towards streamlining our systems. Everything new that we have put into place is designed to keep our patients and staff healthy.
Remember, we’re still the same people behind all of the protective gear! We love seeing our patients and hearing about your lives.
My absolute favorite part of my job is the interactions I have with all of you, all day, every day. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Stay safe and healthy!
Best,
Stefanie Shore, DDS
