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A Re-Opening Update from Mt. Airy Children's Dental Associates

By Dr. David Hasson June 8, 2020

Dear Parents, Patients, Friends and Colleagues,

IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE AND INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PEDIATRIC AND ORTHODONTIC APPOINTMENTS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW!

When you see this new VERY IMPORTANT update, please let all your friends and families know about this Facebook update. Spread the word , YOU MAY COPY IT AND EMAIL OR TEXT IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF PATIENTS IN OUR PRACTICE. . . we are almost ready to reopen after being closed since MARCH 17, 2020.

The office will be closed next week June 8-12 for pediatric and orthodontic patient care except for emergencies and to make final preparations for reopening. At this time please do not call us about regularly scheduled appointments.

IF YOU HAVE AN ORTHODONTIC OR PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENT DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE DO NOT KEEP THAT APPOINTMENT UNTIL WE CONTACT YOU PERSONALLY. More on that below. . . . .

We cannot reopen until we receive our PPE to keep our staff and you safe (as we have always done), but now there are new PPE requirements. How many times have you seen me post that in our FB posts? We will look a bit different . . . NEW face masks, surgical gowns, funny looking face shields . . . all new "stuff" to keep us safe and you safe as well. We are just about there . . . we have completed our doctor's and staff continuing education about how the national emergency Covid-19 has changed the way we practice, completed staff training, and received our special n95 respirators and finished our whole office top-to-bottom deep cleaning and disinfection program.

There will be a new look to the reception area . . . we have acrylic "sneeze guards" at the business desk . . . in case we need to use them, only a few chairs placed 6 feet apart for social distancing. Parents and additional siblings will not be allowed to wait in the reception area to help with social distancing. Air filtration units have been ordered for the office. 

Only one parent will be back with pediatric patients and many older "pediatric" patients will be asked to come back for treatment by themselves if possible, and this is to reduce the numbers of non-patients for social distancing in the clinical areas. Parents, please let us know if your child can come back to the clinical area by themselves. All of this is changed from when we were able to have whole families back in the treatment area. That's what we were known for . . . total family pediatric care.

We have removed the pediatric play area and books and magazines because they are too hard to clean and disinfect. The computer games are closed for now. All because we are trying to "prevent the spread" of Covid 19. And we hope truly that one day we'll get back to the "good-ole" days where we don't have to do this!

Orthodontic and pediatric patient's parents will text/contact us when you arrive at the parking lot and we will greet you individually at our door to take your forehead temperature and pulse-ox readings of you and your child. Orthodontic patients will be screened likewise. We will re-screen for a second time all COVID 19 questions.

And you will be reminded to use hand sanitizer. All parents/guardians and patients age 3 and over are asked to wear a mask and if you need one, we have one for you . . . . . .. . Weird, huh? . . . . . . . For us too. But we always have and always will do "everything by the book" to give you the best pediatric and orthodontic care. And at the same time, we are doing our part to prevent spreading Covid-19.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS: We have new pediatric dentistry and orthodontic patient protocols. We now are required to call you by phone and actually speak to you and screen for COVID-19 questions for all appointments and this is when we will confirm your appointment date and time, and confirm any changes for phone, insurance coverage, etc.

The CDC and OSHA require gowns which are very hard to come by and we are waiting for only that item of PPE. When we open, we will have been closed for 3+ MONTHS. We have seen many emergency patients during this time. We know you have waited so patiently for us to reopen during this national emergency, and we will only do so after we are 110% ready with required PPE supplies. Thank you very much for your understanding.

SO THANKS FROM ALL OF US FOR HANGING IN THERE FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS WHILE WE HAVE BEEN READYING FOR REOPENING!

FOR ALL THE DOCTORS AND STAFF, THANKS AGAIN.

WE'LL SEE YOU VERY SOON.

DR. DAVE