Important Information Regarding COVID-19

In recognition of ongoing news reports and the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus, we realize our patients have questions. As dedicated health care professionals, we want you to know that we remain as diligent as ever in protecting the health and safety of our patients and staff. Our practice strictly adheres to and exceeds the standards for infection control by wearing personal protective gear, using hospital-grade disinfectants, practicing the latest sterilization protocols, utilizing single-use disposable materials, and more. Every effort we have in place is to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We want you to know that we are monitoring this situation very closely, and we will keep you updated regularly.

Symptoms of coronavirus are reported as flu-like, with varying degrees of severity. While we do not know everything about this virus to date, individuals who are elderly and/or immunocompromised appear to be the most at risk of a severe infection. To ensure your health and safety, and the health and safety of everyone at our practice, please reschedule your appointment if you or a member of your household has a cough, fever, and/or flu-like symptoms. In addition, please reschedule your appointment if you have traveled to any areas within the past 14 days that are at high risk for contracting the coronavirus.

We thank you in advance and extend our gratitude for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can help keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office, and one of our staff members will be more than happy to assist you.

Please view and share our latest COVID-19 Symptom Comparison Chart with your friends and family.

For further information, including measures to keep yourself healthy, visit the following links:

• Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html
• Symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
• Steps When Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

---

COVID-19 Precautions

This recent outbreak of coronavirus highlights the vital role of airborne and droplet transmission in the  spread of infection. Infectious aerosols may stay in the air stream  and can deposit from the air to contaminate surfaces.

To mitigate this risk, we have installed a new air purification system, NOVAERUS Protect 900. “NOVAERUS uses patented active purification technology to continuously pull contaminated indoor air across internal short-exposure plasma coils, deactivating airborne microorganisms and viruses at the DNA level.”

In case studies and clinical trials, this technology has been proven to reduce infections and improve wellbeing in real-world settings. Our practice offers this unique and safe solution to protect our team and patients from COVID-19.

https://www.novaerus.com/how-it-works

Beyond Guardian Air Purifier 

Techno Pure Filtration

The techno pure unit is an active unit. It actually produces powerful natural oxidizer called ActivePure Molecules that actively seek out contaminants in the room. The Technology has just had FDA Lab and emergency military testing that proves it actively eliminates Covid in the air in the room in 3 minutes and also on the surfaces in the room within hours. Along with many other RNA/DNA Viruses and gram negative/gram positive bacteria. Click here to learn more.

Innovative Root Canal Technology May Help Protect Patients from COVID-19

With the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, you may worry about going into the endodontist office for a root canal procedure. Besides being nervous about having a “root canal” done, you might be concerned about leaving your home, or fear the potential for viral exposure from other patients, endodontists, or their staff.

Even prior to the pandemic, dentists had a good track record on infection control.  We have used many safeguards to protect our patients, such as rubber dams that limit aerosol emission during treatment and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Healthcare agencies such as the American Association of Endodontists, American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control have called for additional measures in light of the virus, which our practice has adopted, such as extra PPE, more frequent cleaning of treatment rooms, new air filtration and social distancing.

One of the technologies our practice has integrated is the GentleWave procedure for cleaning and disinfection of root canals, which offers several benefits during this time of COVID-19:

• The GentleWave procedure is generally performed in our office in one visit,¹ minimizing the inconvenience of a two-visit procedure, and thereby reducing a patient’s potential exposure to COVID-19.
• The GentleWave Procedure helps preserve more of the tooth structure^2,5, giving patients the opportunity to save their natural tooth³
• There is virtually no aerosol released during the GentleWave procedure. ⁴According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), some endodontic instruments create a visible spray that can contain particle droplets of water, saliva, blood, microorganisms, and other debris. Because the GentleWave system is a “closed-loop” system, this means it is designed to release virtually no aerosolized material into the air.
• Instruments used during the GentleWave procedure are pre-sterilized and used only on an individual patient, eliminating any potential for cross-contamination between patients.

“GentleWave is the latest advance in root canals. It provides efficient cleaning and disinfection of the smallest spaces in the teeth, which allows us to deliver an optimal root canal experience for a patient,” said Nivine Y. El-Refai, BDS, DDS, MSD. “During this time while patients may be concerned about COVID-19, it also minimizes both their time in our office and aerosol emissions, and therefore, the potential for viral exposure.”

The minimally-invasive GentleWave procedure uses acoustic energy to activate cleaning solutions deep into the microscopic anatomy of the tooth, effectively removing tissue and debris that cause infection.^2,5 Many patients – especially those who have undergone standard root canal treatments in the past – describe the GentleWave experience as comfortable and report minimal to no post procedure pain.³

¹Sigurdsson et al. J Endod 2018; 44(3):510-517 ²Molina B et al. (2015) J Endod. 41:1701 ³Sigurdsson et al. J Endod 2016;42:1040-1048 ⁴Data on file at Sonendo; internal testing report# TR20-002 ⁵Vandrangi P et al. (2015) Oral Health 72-86