• • Most in-person pre-treatment observation appointments (for patients who are not close to the stage of being ready for treatment) and retainer check appointments will be paused for now. These appointments will be rescheduled when we are back in our regular routine or may be able to occur virtually.

• • We will deliberately limit the number of patient appointments per day below our typical pre-COVID schedules in order to reduce the number of people physically present in our offices at any one time. This is an essential interim step to ensure the safest environment for all patients and team members.

• • Please wait for our office to call you to reschedule your appointments. Given the large number of patients who need to have appointments rescheduled, we want to ensure that our team can focus on making these important calls in a systematic manner.

• • We will continue to be available to see patients with true orthodontic emergencies that are contributing to pain / soft tissue injury.

• • When you arrive for your appointment please follow instructions on signs placed near our office entrances for how to contact our team via text. Please remain in your vehicle until one of our team members responds to instruct you when to come inside where you will be met and escorted to the clinic area.

• • Only the patient that is being treated will be allowed to enter the office. The only exception for this will be for very young patients with whom only one parent / caregiver may accompany the patient. Absolutely no other family members or friends will be allowed inside.

• • Please bring your own mask or face covering and wear it to your appointment. Federal guidelines for social distancing and wearing masks in businesses continue, so bring the mask you have been using. Unfortunately, in order to maintain our supply of PPE, we are unable to provide masks for patients or anyone accompanying patients into the office.

• • Your temperature will be taken by us with a touchless thermometer. If your temp is over 100 degrees F, you will be asked to leave and not return for the specified 14-day self-quarantine requirement.

• • You’ll also need to complete a simple questionnaire assessing contacts, travel, and well-being. Any patient indicating recent exposure to someone with COVID-19 or having signs and symptoms of the same will be asked to leave, and not return for the specified 14-day self-quarantine requirement. You’ll receive this ahead of your arrival for your digital signature.

• • Maintain the 6-foot social distancing guidelines when in the office until seated in the treatment chair.

• • The tooth-brushing station will be used as a hand-washing / sanitizing station required of every patient before being seated. No tooth-brushing will be allowed at this time, only hand-washing so please brush before arriving for your appointment.

• • The patient restroom will be closed, so please prepare for that before arrival.

• • Patients will be seated every-other-chair in the office to maintain social distancing, which is one of the reasons for our reduced patient / day schedules.

• • We ask for and appreciate your understanding and patience while we will try to address all of your treatment needs during your visit. Individuals with multiple broken brackets may not have everything completed during this visit due to strict scheduling times.
• • Scheduling of next appointments will happen in the clinic area in an attempt to minimize the need for patients to congregate in the front desk areas.

• • WE LOVE OUR PATIENTS! We also love to chat with you at your appointment. Please understand that conversations will be significantly reduced to allow for social distancing, running on time, disinfection of treatment chairs and instruments, etc.

• • We will not be providing our coffee / tea / hot chocolate station at this time.

• • The game areas will remain temporarily closed.

• • During these times we will limit face-to-face interaction with our administrative team members and financial coordinators to make sure both you and our team stay safe. All questions and concerns about finances will be handled through text, telephone, or email. We’ll make all attempts to handle treatment and financial paperwork digitally to minimize the need to be physically present in the office.

• • We will take the temperatures of every team member, including the doctors, immediately upon arrival at work, and after lunch. Any team member at 100 F or above will go home.

• • Every team member will answer the health questionnaire that our patients are required to answer, and will do so every day. If any questions disqualify the team member, they will be sent home following the same procedures we are asking our patients to follow.

You may also notice other changes made to ensure the health and well-being of our patients and our team including:

• Our furniture has been rearranged in order to reduce the number of chairs available in the reception area.
• Magazines have been removed from the reception areas.
• Medical-grade air purification systems have been installed throughout our offices.
• Clear protective sneeze barriers have been installed at our reception desks and other administrative areas.