Dear Patients of The Huntingdon Dental Care Family,

We hope you and your family are 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. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

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 that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• We ask that you complete the COVID-19 screening forms digitally through our online patient forms to reduce cross-contamination through fomites such as pens or paper.
• HEPA Air Purifiers are in place at the waiting room and each operatory to filter up to 0.3 microns. The COVID-19 virus is 0.125 microns, 125 nm, but travel in droplets that are larger, 1 micron, or 1000 nm.
• Wear a mask prior to entering the office.
• We have a 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.
• Faceshields and proper PPE are used by the Huntingdon Dental Care team throughout treatment.
• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask for some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
• Rinse with 1 % hydrogen peroxide solution prior to dental treatment to decrease viral load.   Mix two parts water with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide. Gargle and swish the solution to affect the entire mouth/oral cavity. Tilt the head back and continue gargling for 30 seconds to affect the oropharynx.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys, and so forth since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. 
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients.  We ask that you wait in your car until called or texted by Mary.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you.
•   All windows will be opened to increase the movement of air and dilute any potential viruses present in the ambient environment. 

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. To make an appointment, please call our office.

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

Sincerely,

The Huntingdon Dental Care Team