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Covid Phase II:  Dental offices reopening

We are “OPEN”

UPDATE May 22 2020

Dear patients:

The BC provincial health officer has given dental offices in BC the green light to reopen under “Phase II” regulations.  These regulations are dictated by WorksafeBC, the provicnical licencing body, the ongoing progression or diminishing of viral cases and current understanding of transmission, particularly in the dental office setting. 

The  greatest risk/concern re further spread of this virus is with those that are currently ill or who may have come into contact with someone who has been ill within the past 14 days. In the dental clinic the  concern is the generation of any aerosols that may contain virus particles.

Therefore when booking appointments  we will ask a series of questions to determine your risk. For those at risk of being Covid positive, treatment will be deferred until  the 14 day risk of transmission has passed. If treatment is of an urgent nature, we have  additional safety measures in place to provide emergency care, assuming it will not create a greater health risk. Alternatively referrals to a hospital may be  recommended for anyone with severe health risks who cannot be treated in office.

For those without contact or risk of Covid, we will be able to book your appointments. Upon arrival to the office you are required to complete a COVID screening  and consent form prior to being seen in the clinic area. The clinical staff will also do an assessment to determine if there is any risk. 

Similarly our staff will also be assessed daily to ensure none are ill or have had contact with a potential case of COVID within the previous 14 days.

We are required to modify our scheduling to allow for continued distancing and other measures to minimize potential spread. Therefore we anticipate a slightly longer waiting period for available appointments until this Phase II is complete.

Our primary concern is your overall health, consequently we have incorporated  additional protocols and precautions during this time to ensure the safety of patients as well as staff from this viral infection.  It involves additional barrier protection, modifying how procedures are done to avoid generating aerosols and sterilization protocols to decontaminate any surfaces that may have come in contact with aerosols. 

The good news is that over the past 50+ years the dental industry has learned to manage and control in-office transmission of many viruses, bacteria and outbreaks of  illnesses, and we anticipate these same protocols  will continue to protect yourselves as well as the staff. As we move through Phase II and  see this pandemic lose its “foothold” we expect we will slowly return to a more normal routine and scheduling of appointments. 

Of course your dental health is also paramount and therefore finding appointments for your care is also essential. Rest assured that we will be following up and contacting anyone who has missed appointments and those that are currently booked in the weeks ahead. 

Sincerely,

Dr Peter Balogh and all of us at VCCID