The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives including your regular visits to the dentist. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, the American Dental Association has developed science-based guidance on extra steps to take, to help protect patients and staff. Here's what you can expect at your next appointment at Greenfield Dental Associates.

Before Your Appointment

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean you're offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. Please fill out any forms sent to you by text or e-mail to limit time waiting for your appointment. You will be screened over the phone for symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Patients who report symptoms of COVID-19 may have their appointments rescheduled until full recovery.

At Your Appointment

Massachusetts is requiring you to wear masks in public, be sure to wear one to your appointment. When you arrive, you may be asked to wait outside until we're ready for you. This will reduce the number of people in the office and reduce the amount of time you're close to other people. When you enter the office, you will have your temperature taken and will be screened for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

We ask that you limit the number of people you bring to the appointment. This means leaving your children at home and/or allowing older children to go into the office alone while parents wait outside during their appointment.

Inside the office, you may notice things people often touch in the waiting room - like toys or magazines - have been removed. We will have hand sanitizer available for you to use and may wipe down items you touch, such as pens, clipboards, or furniture.

When you're in the exam chair, you may notice some things look different from the last time you were here. For example, your dentist may be using different protective equipment than they've used previously. This could include different masks, face shields, gowns and goggles. These additional precautions help protect both you and the dentist.

After Your Appointment

After your appointment is over, the staff will thoroughly clean the areas where you've been using disinfectants that are effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 to prepare for the next patient. This helps reduce the risk of illness being passed to others. If you start feeling ill with the symptoms of COVID-19 <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html> within 14 days of your appointment, call our office. You may have already been carrying the virus at the time of your appointment, so anyone who encountered you during that time could be at risk for getting sick too. Remember, regular dental visits are an essential part of your overall heath. The team at Greenfield Dental Associates will make sure your visit is as safe as possible for everyone involved.

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.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kim & the Team