Your Appointment Under COVID-19

To our dear patients:

April 28, 2020

As we follow the impact of COVID-19 and in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Dental Association (ADA) and Virginia Dental Association (VDA), we want to outline the measures we are taking to enhance the health and safety protocols in and around our practice. Your safety and the safety of our team is our primary concern. Until further notice, please respect and adhere to the following enhanced health and safety protocols:

Prior to a scheduled appointment​:

  • All patients should brush their teeth at home prior to coming to the office.

  • Complete all forms online or print and sign all forms and bring them to your appointment. (Contact our office with a valid email address and forms can be emailed in advance of our appointment.)

  • Please call to reschedule your appointment if the patient or anyone in the family has had a fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, runny nose, or sore throat

  • Please keep in mind that only the patient will be allowed to enter the office for his/her appointment. All companions will remain in their car unless they need to physically bring the patient to the entrance of the office. 

When you arrive at the office:

Our reception area is closed. ​Please call our office upon arrival and wait in your car​. When we are ready, we will call you so you can immediately be taken into our treatment area.

Prior to entering the office you will be asked the following questions​:

  • Have you or anyone in your family had a fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, runny nose, or sore throat?

  • Have you or someone in your family traveled outside the state or outside the country in the last 14 days?

  • Has the patient taken any medications to reduce fever in the last 8 hours? (for example: aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen, etc)

We ask that you be truthful and candid with your answers. If you or any family member have a fever or even mild flu-like symptoms, please do not come to the office​. Please call us and we will gladly reschedule to a appointment date.

EVERY PERSON entering the office will be required to​:

  • Wear a mask that covers both the mouth and the nose

  • Have their temperature screened with a thermometer

    • Any individuals with a temperature over ​100.4°F ​will not be permitted to enter the office

  • Wash their hands for 30 seconds with soap and water

  • Sign a consent for treatment

  • Observe the 6 feet social distancing recommendation when possible

EVERY PATIENT will be asked to rinse for 60 seconds with an antiseptic rinse and have his/her blood pressure and pulse taken prior to his/her scheduled appointment.

With regard to scheduling, rescheduling, or cancelling appointments​:

  • Our team has been working together to lighten the schedule. Please keep the appointment time you were given. We are making every attempt to stagger appointments and limit the number of patients in the office at any given time.

  • Please respect our policy of “by appointment only”. We will not be accepting “walk-in” patients.

As a reminder, our office remains a very safe space to continue to administer care. We are constantly disinfecting our facility and equipment. All team members are taking all universal precautions recommended by the CDC, the American Dental Association (ADA), and the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) to maintain a clean and safe environment.

In addition to our standard levels of sterilization and disinfection, our team is disinfecting common areas throughout the day including the front office, restrooms, and all high-touch points. We have also have installed several air filtration systems to provide additional comfort.

Thank you for your understanding and adherence to these health and safety protocols. To protect your families and ours, we will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow local, state and federal guidelines. We continue to take this day by day and will make updates and changes as needed.

Let’s do this for you, for us, and for our beautiful country!

Sincerely,

Dr. Gloria Ward and the Advanced Dentistry of Virginia team