**We are not accepting cash at this time – please come prepared with visa, debit, mastercard or apple/android pay. Please note that even with 100% dental coverage, some things may not be covered by your dental plan. We do not bill based on what is covered by your insurance, rather, what procedures are performed. Due to privacy laws, we are not able to get a complete breakdown of your coverage. If you have questions about what is covered by your insurance, we recommend calling your insurance provider to get a full breakdown. **

Our commitment to the health and safety of our patients has been and remains our top priority. We plan – with the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer, the College of Dental Surgeons of BC and the BCCDC – to extend treatment options.

Due to the nature of dental treatment, dentists, dental assistants, hygienists and administrative dental staff are among the most at risk jobs of contracting the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. This mean you will see a drastic change in our day-to-day operations in order to keep not only you, but our staff and their families safe.

Dentistry is potentially challenged in infection control because so many procedures create splatter and aerosols. Patient’s considered high-risk for severe COVID-19 complications include patients with serious respiratory disease, serious heart condition

s, immunocompromised conditions, severe obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, those undergoing dialysis, those who are pregnant and those over the age of 70. We are encouraging patients who meet any of these criteria to delay coming to the dentist as long as possible.

All patients will be pre-screened prior to each appointment and again prior to entering the office. We will be taking temperatures (via no-touch infrared thermometer) prior to escorting patients back to the clinic. Anyone with a temperature of 37.5 (99.5) or greater will be asked to reschedule their appointment. All staff will be pre-screened every day prior to their shift just as our patients will be.

It has been customary and natural to bring family and friends to appointments. Our new protocol will not allow for non-patient individuals (excluding patients under the age of 18, patients with physical, mental and cognitive disabilities, or those requiring translation services) to your dental appointment. All non-patient’s will be required to wait outside the clinic until the appointment is finished. One of our team members will be acting as a greeter and will meet each patient outside the front gate.

Our patients will also be asked to use hand sanitizer prior to entering the office. We have effectively closed our reception area, removed all toys, books and magazines (due to the difficulty of effective sensitization of these items). We have also closed our washroom to the public. Exceptions will be made for long appointments or emergencies. Please note that these facilities will still receive regular enhanced cleaning.

It is important, now more than ever, that all of our patients maintain immaculate oral hygiene. Please brush and floss at home prior to your appointment. There will be no opportunity to brush in the clinic. We will be giving patients a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution to rinse with at the beginning of each appointment.

For our younger patients, we will no longer be able to provide “treasures” at the end of their appointments.

We will be opening hygiene starting June 8th. Please note that you will likely see some drastic changes from your cleaning appointments in the past.

We will not be offering ultrasonic cleaning as it generates aerosol (ultra-fine water spray). Hand-scaling is much safer in the current climate both for other patients as well as our staff. But don’t worry; it is just as effective as ultrasonic scaling, but a little more slow. Keeping in line with reducing aerosol, we will not be providing polishing at this time.

As always, your safety is our top priority. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 604-463-4838 or [email protected].

Stay healthy,

Your team at Dewdney Dental Center