To the Galbraith Mountain Pediatric Dentistry Community,

 

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a national emergency and local schools are closing, we wanted to reach out to share our action plan. As healthcare providers, we feel it is important to continue to provide dental care to our patients during this uncertain time as long as we are legally allowed to.

 

We remain committed to serving our Galbraith Mountain Pediatric Dentistry family while taking every reasonable precaution to keep you safe. Maintaining a safe and healthy environment to protect the health and well being of our dental team, patients and their families, and community as a whole is our primary goal. As new information becomes available we will continue to update our policies.

 

Here are some things we are doing on our end:

• Fortunately, our office has always used strict infection control procedures to clean treatment areas between each patient. This includes disinfection of the dental chair, counters, hoses and dental lights, as well as sterilization of all instruments.

• Dr. Chad Galbraith and the staff will continue to wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after every patient encounter.

• In response to current concerns, we have increased the frequency of disinfection of non-treatment areas. We now disinfect all door knobs, arm rests, countertops, hand rails, light switches, pens, telephones, and restrooms multiple times a day.

• We are avoiding hand shaking and high-fives during this time. We also removed the toys in our waiting room at this time.

• We are assessing the wellness of our patients at the start of each appointment and will ask any families displaying signs of illness to reschedule.

 

Here are things we asking of you:

• If you or your child (or any family member) has a cough, fever or is experiencing flu-like symptoms, please call our office and we will happily reschedule your visit.

• Upon entering our office, please wash your hands in the toothbrushing area or in the restroom. We do have hand sanitizer, but it is in very limited supply. After brushing and/or flossing your teeth please wash your hands

• In order to limit the number of patients in the building at one time, please arrive no earlier than ten minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.

• As you know, we typically welcome families back with the children during appointments. To limit close contact and reduce the number of people in the office, please do not come back with your child. Please consider staying in your car during your child’s appointment, especially if the waiting room appears crowded.

 

Together, we can continue to provide excellent care for you and your children in a safe, healthy environment. It is only with these precautions that we continue with business as usual and keep our families, team, and community safe. Thank you for your help and understanding in this difficult time, and thank you as always for your trust in our team.

 

-Dr. Chad Galbraith, DDS

 

 

As a reminder, here are the CDC guidelines to prevent illness with COVID-19:

 

Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

 

Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html.

 

Stay home if you’re sick

• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html.

 

Cover coughs and sneezes

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

• Throw used tissues in the trash.

• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

 

Wear a facemask if you are sick

• If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

• If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

 

Clean and disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.