COVID-19 update

We hope this message finds you and your family well.

In an effort to follow the latest guidance from the CDC and CDPH, our office is now open.  If you have a dental problem that arose since the shelter-in-place order took effect, please contact us.  We want to be sure that we take care of your dental problem before it gets worse.

We are aware that dental offices are “high risk” for potential exposure because patients must have their faces uncovered during procedures.  To keep our patients and employees safe, we are therefore taking extra precautions to ensure that everyone remains safe, including:

• Screening people for possible symptoms of Covid-19 over the phone before they come into the office, in accordance with county and state guidance.
• Taking everyone’s temperature before coming into the office.
• Unless prior arrangements are made, we will only allow patients to enter the office.
• Requiring patients who enter the office to wear a mask until it is necessary to remove it for diagnosis and treatment.
• Our dentists and staff will be wearing surgical masks and other protective equipment as necessary.
• Sanitizing the treatment area after each patient leaves, which is a process we have always followed.

But we are also taking additional precautions beyond those outlined in the county and state guidance, including:

• Rearranging our schedule to only see one patient, or one family, at a time.
• In an attempt to reduce in office visits, we will be offering free video and phone screenings to patients
• Reducing potential exposure to air particulates, we will be using vacuum systems to circulate out air that patients breathe out during procedures.
• Only treating one patient in the office at a time.
• Rotating treatment areas throughout the day.
• Using equipment to minimize aerosolization of patient saliva, such as dental dams, during procedures whenever possible.
• Conducting follow-ups after procedures with patients over the phone or video conferencing to reduce their exposure as well.

We will also keep abreast of new strategies to keep patients safe and implement new precautions as needed.  By following government guidance and taking these additional precautions, we are confident that we can protect your health while providing you with dental care.  We know these changes may be inconvenient for you and for us.  But we are committed to caring for our patients during the pandemic, which may last several months or longer.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

– Dr. Ronald Grafton, Dr. Aaron Grafton, and Staff