We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. As we prepare to reopen, we want to thank you for your patience and update you with some of the changes we have implemented in our office. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety and well-being.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits in our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- Our office will communicate with you before your appointment regarding some screening questions. You will be asked to complete a health screening questionnaire when you enter the office.
- We ask that you wear a mask or face covering to your appointment. Due to the limited supply, we are only able to stock enough masks for our staff. Please bring your own face coverings.
- We will be running the office at a cooler temperature to accommodate staff in regards to the extra Personal Protection Equipment they will be wearing. We will not be able to give you a blanket so please dress accordingly.
- Our waiting area is closed. Please call us from your car when you arrive for your appointment. We will let you know if we are ready for you to enter the office.
- Only the patient is permitted in the office. We will make exceptions for young children and adults who need assistance.
- We will take your temperature with a touchless scanning thermometer.
- Hand sanitizer will be required to use as you enter and leave the office.
- We will provide all of our patients with a Hydrogen Peroxide pre-rinse before all dental treatment/cleanings.
- Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That may mean you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
- We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
We look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces! We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment please call (651) 688-3545 or visit our website at https://shireneorandidds.com.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Shirene Orandi DDS & Staff
To help keep your teeth and gums healthy, we offer scaling and root planing- two deep cleaning services. Scaling consists of removing dental tartar from the surface of the tooth, while root planing is the process of removing tooth structure that has become infected and smooth the root surfaces. Effective use of scaling and root planing will help fight against gingivitis, a generative disease that can cause significant gum and tooth deterioration if left untreated. Gingivitis occurs when plaque and tartar collect on the teeth. They create an environment where bacteria multiply and thrive, which causes patients to have bleeding or inflamed gums. At an early stage, gingivitis is easily trated with polishing and scaling. If the gingivitis is allowed to advance, your roots will need to be planed.