We know you may have some questions and concerns related to your visit. Here are some of the most common questions answered for your convenience. Still concerned? feel free to give any of our locations a call, and we will be happy to talk you through what to expect.
Is Dental Care essential? Can't I just wait and do my appointment later?
Without hesitation, we can say that we believe that dental care is essential for good overall health. We agree with former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop when he said, “You’re not healthy without good oral health.” We partner with you to provide the ongoing care you need in order to keep your smile healthy. We know that delaying dental care can lead to overall health problems that affect your whole body. Oral disease untreated has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, bacterial pneumonia, failure to thrive, and premature/low birth weight in babies. Regular dental appointments also help to prevent commonly known dental problems like cavities and gum disease.
The decision to return to the dentist is a personal one. If you have hesitation or doubts, we encourage you to take as much time as you need. Our team will be ready to help when the time is right for you. It is important for you to consider that during this time you may want to delay your next visit for a while if you are more susceptible to Covid-19. We know that those at increased risk are anyone over 60 years or age. Also if you have pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, compromised immune system or cancer you could be at increased risk. It may be prudent to delay your dental care in light of this information.
If you're unsure and would like help making a decision we are happy to discuss it with you, just give us a call!
Can I come with my child / minor / elderly parent to their appointment?
We are asking that only the person with an appointment come into the office, in order to observe best practices during this time as laid out by the American Dental Association, the Center for Disease Control, and our state and local governing bodies.
However, we will maintain flexibility when possible when it comes to requests for a parent or guardian to come into the office. In those situations, we will ask that you go through our screening process before you enter the office as well. We trust that this will not last forever, but until that time we ask for your help in following the guidelines we have put in place in order to achieve a safe environment for you, your family, and our team.
What steps are you taking to ensure your staff are healthy?
We screen every team member twice daily for Covid-19 by taking temperatures and answering questions about signs and symptoms. You will notice that we look a little different. We will be wearing masks and face shields and other protective equipment. We have also had multiple site-specific meetings and walkthroughs with our team so that every question gets answered and each team member is assured that we are creating as safe a working environment as possible.
What steps are you taking to disinfect your offices?
We have sourced a strong supply of cleaning materials to keep our offices as clean as possible from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out. We strictly adhere to all OSHA and CDC guidelines when it comes to the disinfectant we use in our operatories where you receive dental care. We have ensured that the disinfectant we use to clean our rooms is approved for use as safe and effective as determined by the Environmental Protective Agency. We use hospital-grade disinfectant in all high contact clinical areas. We also clean regularly all common areas in the office at regular intervals throughout the day. One of the pillars of Bellano Dental Health has always been safety. Everything we do begins with safety in mind.
What steps are you taking to encourage social distancing and patient safety?
We have developed a simple strategy to ensure we can achieve proper social distancing for our patients and team members. When you arrive for your appointment just call to let us know you are here. We closed our waiting areas and request that you wait in your car rather than in our lobby. When your room is ready we will call you in. At that point, you will receive a mask, shoe coverings, and hand sanitizer. You will then immediately go to your room for your appointment. If you arrive without a mask, you will be given one that is yours to keep. You will also be asked a series of screening questions and have your temperature taken. If in the event that for any reason we have concerns based on the screening process we may consider rescheduling your appointment to allow you to the opportunity to seek medical care. We want you to be safe as well as our team members.
