COVID-19 Protocols
Our Office's COVID-19 Precautions and Protocols
Scheduling
Our Patient Care Coordinators are contacting patients whose appointments have had to be postponed. As of right now, we have a 2 month backlog of appointments. We ask patients to confirm and arrive at their appointments. We understand that some things come up, so if you cannot make your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible to let us know so someone else may have it.
As part of office protocol, patients who are scheduled will be asked to complete a Pre-Appointment Screening Form. This is compiled of basic questions to ensure that our staff is fully informed. Answering "Yes" to any of the questions does not mean you have to cancel your appointment.
We understand that some patients may be hesitant as our office makes the transition to fully operational, so if now is not a good time or if any patient is not ready to visit us, please let us know and and we can find a later time that may work better.
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Prior to Arrival
In order to prepare for your appointment, our office please asks the following:
- at least 48 hours prior to your appointment, please take your temperature at home; if it is above 100.4 degrees, please call and reschedule your appointment for a later date
- if you or anyone you know has had recent, close contact with someone who has had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, please call and reschedule your appointment
These precautions help to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and staff.
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Virtual Waiting Room
Since our lobby will be effectively closed, we are implementing a Virtual Waiting Room!
When patients arrive to our office, they can call our office at (479) 442-3915 to let one of our Patient Care Coordinators know that they are here. From there, a staff member will meet them at their care and escort them into the office.
Once in the office, patients will have their temperature taken and recorded with a NO CONTACT thermometer and be screened again with a questionnaire. From there, the patient will be taken back to the prepped and sanitized operatory for their visit.
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At the Appointment
We request that ONLY patients and one parent, legal guardian, or care-giver are in the operatory at any given time. Our office requires that masks be worn by the guest and our waiting area is set up and sanitized consistently if one necessary family member or friend wants to wait in there. Anyone else accompanying will be asked to wait in their cars.
Appointments are being scheduled for 70 minutes to allow adequate time after each patient for the operatory to be thoroughly sanitized and for the disinfectant to set before the next patient.
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Procedures with Increased Aerosol Presence
FAQ - What is an aersol? An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas.
Patients coming in for the following procedures should expect follow-up contact 48-96 hours post-procedure to ensure stability of health.
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Bite Adjustments
This is not something to be concerned about. Our office is mandated to follow guidelines set forth by the State of Arkansas and by the American Dental Association and this process is recommended.
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This is a list of things our office is doing to ensure the safety of our patients and staff during this time. If any questions or concerns arise, please contact our office at (479) 442-3915 or send us an email at stephensdentistry@gmail.com.
1. Medical grade air purifiers provided by Medify will be placed in each operatory and captures particles as small as 0.1 microns (small enough to catch a virus). Each purifier is ensured to cover a room up to 1600 square feet, but our operatorys are roughly 144 square feet, which means the air will easily stay clean and purified throughout the day.
2. Staff will wear N95 masks and face shields, when necessary, while interacting with patients at close quarters.
3. All patients will be screened prior to their appointment with a questionnaire via an online platform.
4. We will be utilizing a Virtual Waiting Room in which, upon arrival, patients notify the office by calling (479) 442-3915 and a staff member meets them at the door.
5. After meeting the staff member at the door, the patients' temperature will be taken with a NO CONTACT thermometer.
6. The patient will be escorted to the operatory and be provided with protective eye wear, an anti-viral rinse, and devices that constantly suction to limit the presence of aerosols.
7. We are scheduling longer appointment times to ensure that after each patient is seen there is ample time to completely wipe down the operatory. We always have and will keep using medical grade cleaning products (Metrex brand CaviWipes and spray) to disinfect the entire room.
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Resources
Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners - https://www.asbde.org/
American Dental Association - https://www.ada.org/en