We can’t wait to see your smiling faces, but there are a few things you need to know first!
Our top priority is and always will be the health and safety of our patients and team. With that in mind, we have a few safety protocols in place to protect you and us.
At Larson Orthodontics, our top priority is and always will be the health and safety of our patients and team. During 2020’s pandemic shutdown, we worked hard throughout quarantine to keep up with our patients’ care, from virtual checkups to mailing rubber bands to preparing for a safe reopening. We were very fortunate to see patients virtually for regular appointments throughout that time. Since then, we have continued to utilize this technology to address issues on the fly, and we continue to plan your virtual and in-person appointments accordingly.
We’re so happy to be providing in-person treatment again! However, we would like to share with you the protocol that has been implemented to protect the health and safety of our patients, families, and staff. We will continue to follow guidelines for preventing the spread of any infectious disease, as outlined by the standards set by the CDC, OSHA, American Association of Orthodontists, and other local professional organizations.
In addition to our normal hospital-level sterilization techniques, we have taken additional precautions to keep our office safe for you and your family, such as:
- Improved in-office filtration. We have replaced the filters throughout our office with HEPA filters with UV – these kill 99% of bacteria!
- Mask use throughout the office. Our team members were experts at PPE before this started and will be long after! You can expect to see us wearing masks at the front desk, during your exam, and throughout each step of the process.
- Virtual screening and check-in. We have added a virtual check-in process to streamline scheduling and social distancing. This process allows us to prescreen and check in patients and log their temperature to ensure the safety of all in our office.
- Digital communications. We update parents via text after their child’s appointment, utilize our virtual checkup system, and handle new patient consultations virtually.
We must limit the number of people we have in the office at a time. We stagger the scheduling of patients we see each day, and we have added additional clinic days and times to spread out appointments more effectively. In light of these changes, it may take longer to get your appointment rescheduled. We ask for your patience as we continue to navigate this time together.
Here are some of the changes you can expect when you arrive:
- Patients should enter the office alone or with one parent only. We ask that parents and siblings wait in the car. To keep our space as safe and sanitary as possible, our waiting room only has 4 chairs available. Don’t worry – it won’t be that way forever! A little extra caution at this time makes all of us feel safer.
- Please wear a mask into the office if you have one. Masks are required in the office.
- You will receive a text from our office before your appointment. You will be asked some questions related to your health, symptoms, and exposure to COVID-19. It is essential that you answer these questions honestly. If you are symptomatic or at-risk, we will address any issues or concerns with a Virtual Checkup and reschedule your in-office appointment.
- Upon entering the office, you’ll be greeted with hand sanitizer, and you will have your temperature taken with a touchless thermometer.
- All patients and staff will work together in the office to observe social distancing guidelines and proper hand washing and sterilization.
- Our team will reach out via phone or text to schedule your next appointment.
Parents: We will be happy to call or text you after your child’s appointment to fill you in on progress and next steps. If you have any specific concerns you’d like us to address during the appointment, please feel free to contact us before their appointment or initiate a Virtual Checkup.
Before Your Appointment
Please bring a mask or mouth covering 😷
To be seen in the office, you will be required to wear a mask. At this time, no one is allowed in our office without a mask or mouth covering.
Brush your teeth! This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is essential since our toothbrushing stations are currently closed. Please be sure to brush well before leaving your house.
When you arrive, please text the office “HERE,” and we will text you with instructions to come in when we are ready to see you.
Please remember: You must wear a mask in the office.
Patients should enter the office alone. We ask that at this time, parents and siblings wait in the car. If the patient is a minor, one person is allowed to come in with them, but if your child is totally comfortable hanging out with us, we would really prefer that they come in alone.
When the patient enters the office, we will complete a brief prescreening and take their temperature. Each patient must wash their hands and sanitize well before they are seen and again after their appointment.
Don’t worry– it won’t be this way forever! A little extra caution at this time makes all of us safer.
After Your Appointment
Our team will reach out via phone or text to schedule your next appointment.
For the safety and health of our patients and staff, we are kindly asking that you monitor your own health or that of your close contacts for a period of two weeks following your visit to our office. During that two-week period, should you or someone you have had contact with develop symptoms of COVID-19, please call our office and report this.
Thank You for Your Patience
All of our processes are created to follow the recommendations of our state, the AAO, and the ADA. Our procedures are subject to change as recommendations and information come available. Please check back for updates or feel free to contact us with any questions. We truly appreciate your patience and cooperation through all of this.
You guys are the best patients an office could ever ask for and we can’t wait to catch up with you all and see those beautiful smiles!
