As you all know, the flu this season, as well as the coronavirus, have become a very serious concern in the community! We, at Newton Street Dental, want our patients to know that we do not take these risks lightly and that we are taking every precaution that we can to help keep you safe. We pride ourselves on helping you achieve that smile you’ve always dreamed of and restoring dental health, but also, here at Newton Street Dental, we care about you, your families, and your overall health! So, we have put together some information outlined by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) to help you keep yourselves and your homes healthy and to keep our office your worry-free retreat!

If you are experiencing any symptoms of concern: fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc., please contact your primary care physician!

If you have a scheduled appointment at our office and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please know that your health is our number one concern and that we are happy to reschedule your appointment for a time when you are feeling better!

AT HOME TIPS

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Send goody baskets or care packages to friends and loved ones who are sick but do not visit!
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• CDC guidelines recommend that you cough or sneeze into a tissue when possible and then discard the tissue!
• Hand sanitizer, Hand Sanitizer, Hand Sanitizer! As often as you can! Keep those hands clean!
• Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, cellphones, bedside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, TOYS, and any commonly touched surfaces around the home!
• Take care of yourself! Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

For ANYONE WHO HAS SUSPICIOUS SYMPTOMS or confirmed exposure or virus, as well as those WHO ARE CARING FOR SOMEONE who has been exposed, exhibits suspicious symptoms, or has been diagnosed with the virus:

• Stay home except to seek medical attention
• Do not allow visitors!
• Separate yourself as much as you can from other people and animals, YES ANIMALS, in your home. Stay in a separate room where you are comfortable and can relax without exposing others. Use a separate bathroom if possible
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor! They can make accommodations ahead of time to limit exposure if they know you’re coming.
• Reschedule any appointments outside of seeking attention for your symptoms
• Wear a face mask. The CDC recommends that only patients who HAVE symptoms, and who are ill, wear masks to help prevent the spread of the disease. They do not recommend that healthy people wear a mask to protect themselves.
• Avoid sharing household items: do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly!
• When to discontinue home isolation- This decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with health care providers!

FOR OUR CHILDREN

If your children are sick, keep them home! This will prevent them from spreading whatever germs they’re carrying as well as protect them from any germs floating around at school that they could be exposed to while their immune systems are compromised.

We hope these tips are helpful and Thank you for your time!
-Your Friends at Newton Street Dental

COVID-19 Preventative Measures

With the increased concern over the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), we would like to take this time to let you know that we care about your family’s health and want to reassure you that we are taking every precaution we can to avoid the potential threat of transmission in our office.

Newton Street Dental has had thorough training in disease prevention, transmission, and infection control and is required to update this training every two years. Our standard protocol has always been to sterilize all instruments and disinfect all treatment rooms between patient appointments. We are routinely washing hands, donning new gloves, and cleaning all surfaces patients come in contact with, including countertops and door handles, with our antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal wipes.

We use universal precautions with all patients that include masks, gloves, clinical attire, and protective eyewear. Our staff at Newton Street Dental is diligent in recognizing signs of respiratory illness in themselves and will not come into the office if they have symptoms of acute respiratory illness until they are fever- and symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

We receive daily e-mails from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that provide us with important and up-to-date information on the status of the virus across the United States. In addition, we monitor the American Dental Association, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts Dental Association websites.

The CDC guidelines note that, in cases when a patient presents with symptoms of a respiratory infection, dental health care personnel may consider postponing non-emergency or elective dental procedures until a patient is no longer contagious with diseases that may be transmitted through airborne, droplet, or contact transmission (e.g., sneezing, coughing, and contact with skin). If urgent dental treatment is necessary, we will work together with medical providers to determine the need to be treated and the appropriate precautions on a case-by-case basis to avoid the potential spread of diseases among patients, visitors, and staff.

Has anyone in your family visited any countries outside of the United States or been on a cruise in the past 30 days?

Does anyone have any of the following symptoms “fever, cough, or shortness of breath”?

Have any of you been around someone with a known or suspected coronavirus?

If you answered yes to any one of these questions and have an upcoming appointment we ask you to please contact us so we can reschedule your visit to another date.

Should our office be instructed to close for some time, we will notify you by your preferred method of contact. You can also check for announcements on our Newton Street Dental Facebook page.