We want to reassure you that we are taking all precautions to prevent transmission of viral illnesses, including COVID-19. As always, our exam rooms and instruments will be sanitized between each visit and our waiting rooms will be sanitized regularly throughout the day. Tempe Dental Care will continue to offer high-quality dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an extra precaution, we will not be seeing any patients with fever or flu-like symptoms at present. We request that any patients with upcoming office visits reschedule if they have been in contact with someone with fever or flu-like symptoms.
Licensed healthcare facilities follow increased cleaning and safety procedures at all times and have additional cleaning and safety procedures to address pandemics, such as COVID-19. The management of Tempe Dental Care is continually monitoring the situation and following the guidelines for healthcare facilities as recommended by the CDC and Arizona Department of Health Service.
We have compiled this document to help answer some questions our patients may have regarding Tempe Dental Care and COVID-19.
What precautions have you taken to ensure the safety and wellness of your patients?
Our cleanliness and sanitary practices are our highest priority to ensure safe and quality services. We follow the cleaning guidelines of the CDC and the Arizona Department of Health Services for COVID- 19. We have increased our cleaning procedures and frequency of sanitizing equipment, materials, and spaces. We have a professional cleaning crew that cleans the office every day and staff designated to clean and sanitize at regular intervals during the day. All equipment and materials are sanitized on a regular basis. All treatment spaces are sanitized between patients. Staff have all increased the frequency of handwashing. We have also implemented a new procedure that all patients wash their hands upon entering treatment and leaving treatment.
How do you make decisions about your health practices regarding COVID-19?
We are a licensed healthcare facility in the state of Arizona and therefore follow the guidelines of the Arizona Department of Health Services. This government agency is in charge of the health services and public health of the citizens of Arizona.
What about the new recommendations for 10 people in a gathering?
This recommendation applies to social situations and does not apply to business or healthcare. Social distancing and screenings continue to be the recommendation for healthcare facilities in order to provide healthcare services to clients. We will continue to see clients at our facility.
Will you be offering any alternatives to clinic-based services?
No. Emergency dental appointments will continue to be offered and we will continue to provide dental services for our patients. As an extra precaution, we will not be seeing any patients with fever or flu-like symptoms at present. We request that any patients with upcoming office visits reschedule if they have been in contact with someone with fever or flu-like symptoms.
Schools are closing. Are you remaining open?
Yes. We will remain open in accordance with CDC and Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines. Healthcare facilities are required to remain open to service the healthcare needs of clients. The CDC has indicated that school closures have little to no impact on the mitigation (reduction) of COVID-19. The CDC indicates that hygiene practices have more impact on decreasing COVID-19 than school closures.
What steps do you take to take to protect the patients, families of patients, and staff, at your facility?
We continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC to prevent contracting COVID-19.
- Wash hands thoroughly and often.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Encouraging patients, families of patients, and staff to stay home if they are sick.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect.
What about social distancing?
Social distancing is a method to help prevent the spread of infectious disease. It involves maintaining a distance from others when engaging in social situations to reduce touching. It is not to be confused with social isolation, which is staying away from other people. The CDC recommends social distancing. Therefore, Tempe Dental Care is reducing the number of patients in the waiting room to decrease contact between patients.
Visit the CDC to learn more about their recommendations on how to protect yourself.
Thank you for your understanding during these difficult times. These changes are temporary and we will keep you posted with any changes or additional information.
5801 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 730-5000