Hello friends and patients of Dr. Hansen’s Family Dentistry,
We are carefully going to resume seeing patients in our office according to the guidelines outlined below. We will follow these guidelines and as always, we will do all in our power to provide a safe environment to care for our patients’ dental needs.
As of April 21st, Governor Herbert’s Public Health Order allows hospitals, physicians, and dentists to resume elective surgeries and procedures. The Utah Dental Association has worked hard to help shape statewide parameters that will minimize the risks to patients and the dental team, in regards to coronavirus exposure.
This public health order does not mean Utah has moved out of the red high-risk aspect of this pandemic. We are not sure when the state of Utah will move to the orange moderate risk phase. We need to remember as Governor Herbert stated, “While we are not out of the woods yet, we also understand that many of the procedures that have been postponed are medically necessary. At this time, we believe we can cautiously resume certain procedures. “
As the UDA has stated numerous times, risks are always present in a dental or medical setting. Knowing when to avoid certain high-risk situations and minimizing any other risk relies on sound professional judgement. This is a key aspect in resuming some elective procedures. The following list are the precautions identified in conjunction with the Public Health Order:
Practices reopened with additional precautions taken by healthcare providers (including dentistry), based on availability of resources.
Consider availability of resources (access to personal protective equipment, supplies, medicine).
Patients encouraged to wear masks when they go to their healthcare provider.
Ensure 6-foot physical distance of all patients at all times.
No congregating in waiting rooms, if possible, patients should wait outside or in their car and be escorted directly to a treatment room with minimal social interaction.
All children’s play areas, toys, magazines, and similar items removed from waiting rooms.
Screen patients upon entering the office with a questionnaire asking about symptoms, travel, and any sicknesses in the home.
Take patient temperature to screen for fever.
Only one adult may accompany each child; strongly encourage to wait outside the exam room if aerosols will be generated during treatment.
Plexiglass barrier installed, face shields, or masks appropriate to setting provided to front desk personnel.
Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of non-COVID-19 patients.
Appropriate protocols, by setting, should be put in place for using appropriate personal protective equipment for persons under investigation, screened positive, and COVID-19 patients.
Personal clothing should be changed when leaving care setting based on risk posed by patient care being provided.
Gowns or shoe coverings are not necessary, but would provide added protection.
Face shields or goggles that seal around the eyes must be worn when performing any treatment that creates an aerosol.
Maintain appointment log with patient contact information to assist with contact tracing efforts. (electronic medical records system is sufficient)
All universal precautions strictly maintained.
