May 19, 2020

Dear Patient,

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Since our offices were forced to close on March 16 due to the COVID-19 national emergency, Thomas Family Dental has been closely monitoring the orders and guidance from our state and local authorities. On Monday, in Phase 1 of his four phase reopening plan, Governor Baker is allowing dental offices to open under strict guidelines and for limited procedures. Phase 1 begins on May 25. Dental hygiene visits will not be allowed until at least Phase 2 which is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 8.

We will begin the gradual reopening of our offices on Tuesday, May 26. Our staff has hundreds of patients to call. In order to make this process go as smoothly as possible, please wait for a call from us. We appreciate your patience as we work through this process.

You will see several changes once our office reopens. We made these changes to help protect our patients, visitors and staff. For example:

  • Mandatory COVID-19 safety standards as required by the state prior to reopening.
  • Signage throughout the office in reference to social distancing and hygiene protocol.
  • Enhanced disinfecting and cleaning protocols along with staff training in social distancing, hand hygiene and disinfection protocols.
  • We will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You will be asked those same questions again when you first enter the office.
  • All staff, patients and visitors are required to wear face masks upon entering the building and offices as well as maintain social distance except when in treatment with their healthcare provider. Please bring your own face mask.
  • All staff, patients and visitors will have their temperature taken with a non-touch thermometer as they enter the office.
  • We ask that you arrive on time for your appointment. If you arrive early, please wait in your vehicle until your appointment time as this will help reduce the number of people in the reception area.
  • We ask patients to come alone for their appointment unless absolutely necessary to bring a guest.
  • Hand sanitizer can be found as you enter the office and at other areas throughout the office.
  • Appointments will be managed to allow greater time between patients for our disinfection protocols. This will also reduce the number of people in the office to allow for better social distancing.
  • Our waiting room is free of magazines and toys, our coffee station and water cooler have been removed, and seating is spaced at least six feet apart.
  • Plexiglass dividers have been installed at the front desk.
  • HEPA filters have been placed throughout the office.

While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to the health and safety of our patients and staff. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice. Our infection control processes are determined so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable. 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.

You can still receive dental care during the events of the COVID-19 national emergency, but please be advised that there may be risks in being in proximity of dental offices, dental healthcare providers, patients or staff. We are taking precautions to limit the spread of disease, yet there is still a possibility of transmission.

As we navigate this unprecedented environment, our focus continues to be the health and safety of our patients and staff. We greatly appreciate your cooperation during these challenging times. Your confidence and trust in our practice is greatly appreciated. Thank you for being our patient; we look forward to welcoming you back.

Sincerely,

The Doctors and Staff at Thomas Family Dental