Dear Patients,
Over the past 10 weeks, you have probably received correspondence from our office providing updates during this pandemic. These letters have been point-of-fact in describing how we as a dental office have been affected by the shutdown and in turn, how this has affected you and your dental care. Today’s letter to you is going to be a little more personal as we finalize plans to reopen on Tuesday, June 9.
First and foremost, we are hoping that all of you have remained healthy during this crisis and we are looking forward to seeing you once again. As you begin to come back for treatment, several changes have been implemented that will improve our ability to render your care in an extremely safe manner. Some of these will be readily noticeable and some of them are more inconspicuous in their design. Some changes are physical in nature, while some are changes in protocol.
As far as the office is concerned, we have redesigned the seating area in our waiting room to accommodate a maximum of three patients while allowing for social distancing. This means that we will be limited as to the numbers of patients we can see at any given time. Currently our waiting room, the lobby on the first floor, and the seating area in the cafeteria are all closed. Plexiglass windows have been placed in our administrative area to provide an additional layer of protection. A high-tech device has been installed in our ductwork that has the capacity to completely purify the air in the entire office on a continuous basis. You will also notice individual ground-level air purifiers in each treatment area for additional air purification. The rear of our treatment rooms will now be enclosed with medical grade curtains to limit air dispersion. After your departure from the treatment room, the entire area will be disinfected with standard chemical disinfection and new UV light disinfection, as well. You will notice that each of us will be wearing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for added safety for all concerned. All clinical staff will be wearing required PPE including gowns, head covers, gloves, N95 or NK95 masks, and face shields. In addition, all of our staff will be screened on a daily basis.
As far as changes in protocol, for the time-being our office staff will be interacting with you more remotely as we attempt to care for your administrative needs over the phone and by computer. Team members will be reaching out in the next few weeks to schedule your next appointment. Due to the anticipated high call volumes and correspondence, we request your continued patience as hold and call-back times will be considerably longer than usual. Our team will be doing their best to quickly resume care for all our patients, after being closed for nearly three months.
Our appointment confirmation and arrival protocols have also been updated for your protection. One day prior to your appointment, you will be called by our office and asked specific questions as part of our Covid-19 pre-screening process. On the day of your appointment, we ask that you take your own temperature before leaving home. If you have a fever of 100 degrees or greater, an ongoing cough, or if you are just not feeling well, we will recommend that you do not come in and call us as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. We ask that you err on the side of caution and be as transparent as possible during the pre-screening process. We also request that you come into the office by yourself if at all feasible. Additionally, please arrive 10 minutes early as we have to adhere to a strict schedule in order to allow sufficient time for disinfection between patients. To increase efficiency and limit your time in our office, please feel free to email us with any questions you may have before your appointment.
Once you have arrived at our building, please remain in your car and call (617-562-5210) or text us (617-315-6286) to let us know you are here. We will inform you when you can come up to our office. The Brighton Marine Health Center will not allow you to enter without a mask, so please wear one upon entering the building and our office. Our waiting room is temporarily closed so you will enter through the clinic door located in the main foyer outside the elevator. A staff member will greet you, take your temperature, and provide you with hand sanitizer. You will be asked to fill out a very brief health questionnaire and consent form. Next, you will be escorted to a treatment room that has been specifically prepared for you. Before your dental treatment begins, you will swish with an effective and safe mouth rinse for 30 seconds. You will also be provided with disposable protective eyewear. Upon dismissal from your appointment, we will attempt to take care of your administrative needs remotely including helping you with appointment scheduling, insurance concerns, and payments.
On a more personal note, I express to you my heartfelt gratitude for your patronage throughout the years. Our very existence has been made possible only because you have made an important decision to allow us to take care of your dental and overall health needs. Brighton Family Dental Group has been providing high quality, compassionate dental care since its inception in 1994. Some of you have been with us from the very beginning while others have joined us more recently, and to all of you, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for entrusting us with your health. Although many of the changes taking place may appear to be somewhat impersonal in nature, we hope that most will be temporary as we strive to return as close to the old-normal as possible. In the meantime, all of us behind these masks are here to help you as best as we possibly can. With a combined 175 years of experience, you can feel confident that we will do our very best to continue to be here for you when you need us the most. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 617-562-5210. You can also text (617-315-6286) or email ([email protected]). Thank you again, and we look forward to seeing you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Villani and Staff
Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment with Us!
We offer a wide array of dental services and treatments for you and your family. To learn more, schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Thomas Villani or Dr. Richard Kondrat by calling (617) 562-5210. We proudly welcome patients from Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and all surrounding communities.
