Important Information Regarding COVID-19
COVID-19 RESPONSE and EVERDAY PRECAUTIONS
Charles H. Surles DDS
First of all, please know that your health and providing the best care to you and your family have always been our main priorities. Our office closed on March 19th, 2020 in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. During this closure, our staff has worked diligently to educate ourselves through online webinars and training to be fully prepared to safely treat patients when we reopen. In our attempts to navigate our new normal, you will notice a physical difference in our office setting to support social distancing efforts and additional/upgraded personal protective equipment. Many of you are already aware of the relationship between oral health and overall wellness. Gum disease is linked to a host of illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease. These are some of the very illnesses that can increase susceptibility to the Coronavirus. Therefore, as a result of our efforts, high degree of preparedness, and concern for your continued overall good health, your confidence should be high in our ability to safely continue serving your dental needs.
We have always followed standard universal precautions issued by the CDC and ADA to help protect every one of our patients and staff from the many infectious diseases that we are potentially exposed to on a daily basis. For your peace of mind, these are the same precautions we take EVERY time you sit in one of our patient chairs:
- Single use gloves, masks and protective eyewear
- We wipe down each dental operatory after each patient visit with a medical grade surface disinfectant that kills all know infectious diseases, including Coronavirus
- All instruments are scrubbed after each use and placed into either an autoclave(high pressure steam oven) or dri-clave (dry heat oven) to kill every known infectious organism, including Coronavirus
The following extra measures are now being added to further protect staff and patients:
- Prescreening Patients – Calls to confirm or schedule all appointments will include questions related to any potential exposure to Covid-19 or other health concerns
- Limiting the number of people in our office. Family or others will be asked to remain in the car (Individual exceptions for minor children will be considered)
- Temperature taken upon arrival
- Increased frequency in disinfecting common areas
- Removal of reading material/magazines from the office
- Protective barrier at the front desk counter
- Additional PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Upgraded masks (Level 2 or greater)
Hair coverings
Face Shields
Optional full coverage gowns for high aerosol procedures
- Peroxide based oral rinse prior to being treated
- Air purification units using bipolar ionization on airborne particles
We ask your help in our efforts to keep everyone safe. Cover coughs or sneezes with either a tissue or the inside of your elbow, and refrain from touching surfaces within the office as much as possible. Be prepared with a coat or sweater for cooler indoor temperatures as the staff adds layers of protective wear. Our excitement to see all patients back in our office will be evident, but all attempts will be made to maintain social distancing practices. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding!
*Prior to appointment, please visit our website at www.surlesdental.com to print and complete patient forms**
Professionally Yours,
Charles H. Surles, DDS
Please view and share our latest COVID-19 Symptom Comparison Chart with your friends and family.
For further information, including measures to keep yourself healthy, visit the following links: