Friends,
It has been awhile! Wanted to reach out to our patient family and our community to give a briefing of how our practice is coming back to being able to provide patient care. More than anything, we miss seeing our patients everyday, we miss working, and there are many patients that need and desire to see us after this break. Nothing is harder than knowing our phone is ringing when we have been closed. We have not been idle during our break, but rather have made significant time for learning and retooling our office to provide a safe environment.

Some things might seem a little different here when we come back. Most of people that come in our office know that we are huggers and handshakers. For the time being, there will be some barriers to sharing our affection. Behind all the masks and shields you know there are big smiles, happy to see you.

We have always kept our office and clinical work spaces clean and disinfected to a standard higher than required. Disinfection of surfaces is part our hourly routine. We have placed systems about how patients move through the office so the possibility of viral transmission is greatly diminished.

With the knowledge of how this virus can be airborne, we have made significant investments in the HVAC and air quality in our office. We have installed ionic plasma generators in our air conditioning ducts that trap and kill the virus (called air scrubbing), we are increasing the air media filters up to a high (MERV13) level. At the point of the patient procedure, dental evacuators will be used to “slurp up” more than 95% of the aerosol that comes from our patients mouths during a dental procedure. You will also see industrial mobile air filtration scattered throughout the office. On top of all that, of course, we are wearing masks! Needless to say, this may be overkill, but we’re committed to doing whatever we can to serve our patients and do it safely.

Our target opening, which fits into the suggestion of our Licensing Board is mid May. In the weeks to come we will be working diligently to reschedule lost appointments. We are also carefully confirming future appointments. We greatly respect our patients thoughts and feelings about the unprecedented circumstances of COVID19. We are encouraging patients that are medically or immune compromised to share with us if they would like to postpone. This holds true for those that feel anxious or vulnerable. Of course, we are asking patients that have symptoms of a cold, cough, or flu-like symptoms to reschedule. This is our strategy to replace the appointments of the hundreds of people that have missed appointments and want to come in soon.

I have always preached that being intentional and following what you value will guide you. My personal belief is that by being very intentional and smart about this, we will see it through.

Best Regards,

William Kelly III, DDS