covid-19 updates and resources

office status

Good news! With the lifting of the “Stay at Home” order, we are able to re-open our office on May 6th, 2020.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things for all of us, and it will also affect the way we deliver care to our patients. You will notice that many things have changed as we have added new protocols and safeguards to help keep our patients and team safe.

As of 5/6/2020 we have reopened under new COVID-19 guidelines and are able to:

• See patients who are symptom-free and pass a COVID-19 screening
• Perform routine aerosol-free procedures (including cleanings!)
• Perform limited aerosol-producing procedures, if there is an urgent need.
• Continue offering teledentistry appointments for patients who have COVID-19 or are experiencing similar symptoms.

our commitment to safety during the covid-19 pandemic

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. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. 

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 can make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations. 

some of the changes patients can expect:

• All patients must wear protective facemasks until you reach the dental chair.
• We will be staggering our schedules to limit patients in the clinic area to be less than 10, including technicians, doctors and patients.
• Staff will continue to disinfect all clinical areas between patients as well as wipe down door handles, etc.
• You will notice that our team is wearing significantly more protective wear and has increased our sterilization procedures.
• In addition, we have increased our air filtration in the building and have added portable HEPA air filters for aerosol-producing procedures.
• Our office is COLD! With all of the additional protective wear we have to put on, we are cranking the AC so please bring a jacket with you!
• To help cover the added costs of PPE (personal protective equipment) and operating under COVID-19 precautions, we will be charging out a Preventative PPE code that is billed at $15.00 per appointment. Please note: if insurance does not pay, the patient will be responsible for this charge.

what to expect at your upcoming appointment:

• You will be called the business day before your scheduled appointment to complete a phone screening to make sure that you are symptom-free.
• The COVID-19 Patient Disclosure and Consent for Services (see link below) will need to be filled out and signed by you on the date of your appointment.
• Our waiting room is closed, so when you arrive for your appointment, please wait in your car and call our office at 970-377-2557.
• A clinician will come out to your car, ask you the COVID-19 screening questions and take your temperature before you enter the office.
• Patients will remove their facemask and use hand sanitizer once seated in the chair.
• Patients will rinse with a rinse before the clinician begins a procedure to reduce potential viral load within the mouth.
• Follow-up appointments will be scheduled over the phone.
• We are unable to accept check or cash payments at this time so we ask that all patients pay online by credit card.
• We are currently unable to verify insurance benefits, so if you have had a chance to your insurance, please call them to make sure that you have coverage with our doctors before your appointment. If you would like us to bill insurance on your behalf, please send a photo of the front and back of your card to info@owensdds.com.

what is an aerosol-free dental cleaning?

ppe shortage

We have been affected by the PPE (personal protective equipment) shortage and we are specifically in need of N95 masks. If you or anyone you know has extra N95 masks and would be willing to part with them, please let us know!

Again, a huge THANK YOU to our amazing patients who have been helping sew mask coverings, surgical caps, and other items to help us through these difficult times! We are so grateful for you!

teledentistry appointments

If you have a teledentistry appointment scheduled, click below to download, sign, and return the teledentistry consent. You can email it to info@owensdds.com. Thank you!

Are you experiencing a dental emergency?

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call our office at 970-377-2557.