We Are Open & Providing All General Dentistry Care!
At Dr. Judy Sturm’s here’s what we’re doing to keep you safe.
In the past few weeks, as mandated and recommended by our governing bodies (CDC, OSHA, and the RCDS), we have limited our practice to emergency care, but now, we are very happy to announce that our doors are once again open to non-urgent (but important!) care.
As we reclaim as much of our “normal every-day life,” we know that Covid-19 is still at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. We understand the stresses this may bring. Part of every-day life includes excellent oral hygiene – at home and at our practice. With this pandemic, many of our patients’ recare schedules have fallen behind and it’s now time to catch up. And here’s some vital information…
Your dental visits are an important part of staying healthy and we want you to know what we’re doing to keep you safe.
Along with our already-stringent equipment and treatment room sterilization protocols, we are committed to:
- Pre-screening patients for symptoms of illness via email the day before your visit & once again upon arrival (see below for the questions we’ll be asking).
- Taking your temperature when you arrive
- Rescheduling appointments if there is any risk to our patients, our team, or our community.
- Providing sanitary hand gel throughout our practice and plenty of soap and single-use towels.
- Routinely sterilizing all non-treatment areas including restrooms, waiting areas, and consultation rooms – just like we’ve always done. We have also added air purifiers to every operatory and we “fog“ all common spaces with hypochlorous acid ( an antiviral and antibacterial solution) 3 X/day. Rest assured that door handles will be sanitized after each use as well.
If you’re one of our patients who had their recare cancelled as a precautionary measure during the pandemic, hopefully we’ll be reaching out to reschedule you in the next week. But if not, please call us now. We’ll fit you in at a time that’s most convenient to you so that you can keep your treatment plan and your oral health on track!
In addition, we are also…
- wearing full PPE, i.e. masks, face shields, gloves, gowns, and caps … but don’t worry … you’ll still see our smiles in our eyes!
- not wearing street clothes in the practice
- not handling mobile phones in the practice.
- social distancing by limiting the number of people in the practice at one time.
- encouraging all new patients to complete and submit your confidential intake form online before your visit.
Our Focus Is On Your Safety.
As SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) moves through our community, it brings so many life changes, questions, and new practices at home, at work, at school, and at the dental office.
We understand that the transition back from isolating and social distancing may be awkward and even scary at first. That’s why, in addition to safety, we’re focusing on two more areas to assist you in feeling more confident, comfortable, and safe at your next appointment.
- Communication – If you have any questions whatsoever about attending our practice, please ask! One of our team members will be happy talk with you, clearly & honestly.
- Treatment Plan Fulfilment – To ensure your most beautiful & healthy smile, it’s important that we continue to be proactive with your dental care, taking a preventive approach. We’ll be in touch to confirm your next appointment and look forward to seeing you! If you’ve missed your recall appointment while our practice was accepting emergencies only, please call now to reschedule.
We’re here to help you feel confident in receiving the dental care you want and need. Thank you for your trust and loyalty. It means so much to us!
What Is Patient Screening?
While the threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains in our community, we will be screening patients before appointments by asking recent-health questions. Screening will happen twice: by a short questionnaire emailed to you when we confirm your date and time the night before, and when you arrive at the practice. To remove any mystery or anxiety around screening, here’s what we’ll be asking…
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- Have you felt hot or feverish in the last 14-21 days? Do you have a fever now?
- Do you have shortness of breath or other breathing difficulties?
- Do you have a cough, typical cold symptoms, hoarse voice, fatigue, or headache?
- Any flu-like symptoms like stomach/intestinal upset?
- Have you experienced recent loss of taste or smell?
- And when you arrive at our practice, we’ll ask if we may take your temperature.
To keep everyone safe, if you answer yes to any of these questions, we’ll reschedule your appointment for when you are symptom-free.
As your dentist, thank you for your understanding and for you trust and loyalty in our team.
If you’re a current patient, or a new to us, please call us at
416 967-4212 or email us at admin@yorkvillesmiles.com with your dental-related questions. We are so excited to hear from you and see your smile soon!
Stay safe!
Dr. Judy & Team