Eldorado Dental COVID-19 Protection Strategies

Our first Covid-19 vaccine has been taken by El Dorado Dental staff and our second one is February 7th!

 


 

We are committed to keep you and our staff healthy and safe. We have some new office protocols that we would like you to be aware of.

If you need to make an appointment or discuss anything – Please call the office to do so. No walk-ins will be allowed. We are limiting the number of patients and staff that are allowed to be in the office space at one time.

When you have an appointment, Please arrive right at your designated appointment time. Appointment times are not suggestions. If you arrive late you will be asked to reschedule. Appointments are designated blocks of time reserved to ensure that we are following all safety guidelines and giving you undivided attention during your treatment. The waiting room is closed so you will have to wait in your vehicle until your treating professional is ready to bring you in for the appointment. No early admittance as it’s very important to limit the number of individuals we have exiting and entering and for us to maintain social distancing guidelines.

If you are being dropped off for your appointment please have your ride wait with you until you are brought into the office. The ride will not be allowed in the lobby to wait. We can take your rides name and number and call them for you when you are ready to be picked up.

When you arrive please call 505-466-0999 to check in, someone will be out to take your temperature and to hand you a Covid-19 consent form that must be completed before your appointment.

You will receive a check-in instruction text the day of the scheduled appointment.

Please wear your mask at all times and the provider will let you know when you can remove it.

We are continuing to manage many changes as they come. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these peculiar circumstances.

 


 

Our Covid response has been and will continue to be of the highest priority for each and every one of our patients.

The safety precautions we have incorporated include: ozonated air and water in operatories, pre procedural rinse, HEPA filter running constantly in reception area and operatories, appropriate PPE, thorough wiping down of all surfaces between each patient, sterilization of all instruments, staggering of appointments to only allow a certain number of patients in the facility at one time, opening of windows as often as weather permits, diffusers of air purifying eucalyptus oils running throughout office, and hand sanitizing stations.

PLEASE call back to confirm that you are coming to your appt. as we have been very busy with limited appointment times and a limited number of people who can be in the office at one time.

If for any reason you feel uncomfortable keeping your appointment time, PLEASE let us know 72 hours in advance so that we can accommodate the long waiting list of people still needing to be seen. Should you have any concern at any time during your appointment about your safety, please consult the team member taking care of you.

In the spirit of giving thanks we are thankful for your support and understanding during this crazy time. We will be closed Nov 25-29 for Thanksgiving, and Dec 24-Jan 4. Should you have an emergency there will be instructions on the office voicemail. Please stay healthy and safe.

 


 

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. As we prepare to reopen our office our team is excited to welcome you back and is looking forward to seeing you. In order to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, we feel that it is important to share with you the additional steps we are taking to ensure health and safety:

*Our office is equipped with a HEPA filter which will be on at all times in a centralized area.

*We use additional high volume suction devices during procedures which reduce aerosols by over 90%

*Please brush your teeth BEFORE coming to your appointment to prevent aerosols/spatter.

*Pre-treatment oral rinsing to reduce pathogens in generated aerosols.

*Clinical staff will continue to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the CDC and OSHA.

* Our accelerated hydrogen peroxide office disinfectant solution completely kills all viruses and bacteria within 1 minute. This is used to clean all surfaces after every patient.

*We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

* You do not need to call to reschedule an appointment. The appointments that were canceled at the start of the shut down in late March will be rescheduled first. Then April then May. We will not be able to schedule appointments at 100% capacity as we were before. With new protocols and guidelines, we will need additional time between patients to prepare for the next appointment.

*Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

*Please do not attempt to schedule an appointment in person. We will need to keep the waiting area clear as much as possible.

* 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.

* All patients will be pre-screened regarding their health prior to their appointments. We will request no more than 2 patients at a time in the waiting area. Please check in with the front desk and go back out and wait in your vehicle. The dental assistant or hygienist will come and get you for your appointment.

*IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT YOU ARE ON TIME FOR YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR DENTAL NEEDS IN A TIMELY MANNER TO REDUCE NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN OFFICE AND RECEPTION AREA.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors, and friends.

Thank you,
Haley Ritchey DDS

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