Dental Office Notifications
We Are OPEN
Dear Friends & Patients,
There are some news articles currently circulating that question the safety of receiving dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. These articles also mention the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to postpone dental care until more information is known.
The team at White Street Smiles would like to address any concerns about our infection control competency and patient safety in the communication below.
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We are committed to patient safety
First, it’s important to note that COVID-19 is not the first major respiratory disease dentistry has had to face. In fact, dentistry has operated for decades, through outbreaks such as SARS, H1N1, and Influenza.
Perhaps more importantly, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found no evidence to show that any previous disease spread through dental offices, including COVID-19.
“To date, in the United States, clusters of healthcare personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been identified in hospital settings and long-term care facilities. There have been NO clusters reported in dental settings or among dental healthcare providers.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
We are committed to infection control
The dental community has always been diligent and committed to stringent infection control protocols. For these reasons, the dental office has historically been a place of little, if any, respiratory infection transmission.
Now, White Street Smiles has incorporated even more stringent protocols that include:
- Curbside check-in
- Mandatory use of masks – by everyone
- Intra-oral high evacuation devices for each patient
- Installation of 3 UVC and 3 HEPA filters to treat circulating air
- Limited patients and guests in the office
- Removal of magazines
- And more…
We’re confident that these efforts, in addition to our already stringent cleaning protocols, highlight our commitment to our patients’ safety and that we are able to treat you in the safest manner possible.
“Joann and Melissa are the best! I have been going to this dental practice for over 6 years and my visits gets better and better every time! I feel like I am family when I am there!
During Covid times, it is difficult for all of us, but I can assure you that this practice is safe, safe, safe! The office is clean and sanitized and everyone is wearing double masks!
Just wanted to thank all the staff for making this another awesome experience! I would recommend this dental practice to everyone as your #1 family dental office!”
John | White Street Smiles patient
We are committed to oral health
We know that your oral health is an integral component of systematic health. Dentistry is an essential health care service because of its role in evaluating, diagnosing, preventing or treating oral diseases which can affect your overall health.
Therefore, we feel that routine dental care should be considered ESSENTIAL and not elective. It is important for us to help maintain your health and we feel confident that we can do it in the safe dental environment that we’ve worked hard to establish for our patients.
Any patient with concerns and/or questions about receiving dental treatment at White Street Smiles should call us directly 203-743-4670
Resources: Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA)
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates
Dear friends and patients in the communities of Greater Danbury CT – effective June 1st, White Street Smiles is open for all dental procedures and we are proactively scheduling new appointments.
We recognize that the course of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, but we can certainly implement precautions to keep everyone safe. It is our hope that the additional Infection Prevention Measures we’ve implemented will encourage you to seek the dental care you need.
All of us at White Street Smiles greatly appreciate your continued support. Thank you!
Dr Joann Paiva-Borduas
P.S. We are here to help. Call us with any questions or suggestions.
Dental Appointment Procedures
- Scheduling: we have been proactively calling our patients and you are always welcome to call us. Inevitably, a backlog of routine dental procedures, plus reduced office traffic will create longer waits.
- Arrival: arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. We have removed all literature and magazines from the office. Feel free to bring your own.
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- Stay in your car
- Call Us to let us know you’re here – 203-743-4670
- Wear your mask – we will provide one if you forget
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- Preparation:
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- We will take your temperature
- Provide you updated dental forms
- Provide hand sanitizer
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- Transition: we will escort you directly to your appointment room.
These additional precautions might seem unappealing, but they are the most effective methods we have to avoid the risks associated with no oral care at all.
Thank you. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding during these unprecedented times.
The White Street Smiles Team
Dear Friends & Patients,
The American Dental Association has issued the following statement to all Dental offices:
“The American Dental Association recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19,” according to the March 16 statement from ADA President Chad P. Gehani. “The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team. In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.”
What this Statement Means to You
White Street Smiles team is committed to the health and well-being of our patients and our team. Therefore, we have postponed all routine dental procedures (eg. cleaning and fillings) until further notice.
Any patients with temporary crowns and fillings who experience a concern, should call for direction.
Emergency Dental Care
We will open our office, as necessary, for Emergency Dental Care. Patients injured or who experiencing pain should use our 24/7 ‘on-call’ system.
Call 203-743-4670.
Guidelines for Emergency Dental Care:
- We may ask friends and family who accompany you, to remain outside our office.
- We may take your temperature and ask you to rinse with a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- We may impose other requirements as more information is available to us.
Emergency care may not be extended to patients who:
- Are experiencing flu like symptoms
- Have visited China, Iran, Italy or South Korea or the Lower Westchester County Containment Zone in the last 14 days
- Have been in contact with anyone with known symptoms
Thank you for your understanding while we do everything possible to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
We appreciate your continued confidence and support. Stay safe.
The White Street Smiles Team
Dear Friends & Patients,
The White Street Smiles Dental Office will CLOSE effective March 18 at 2:00PM to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
- Dental Emergencies – Call our office first (203-743-4670)! Our ‘On-Call’ system will remain active so that we might help alleviate any unnecessary burden to hospital emergency departments and other health care professionals.
- Routine Procedures – All routine dental procedures are postponed until further notice.
We will communicate with our patient community here as we continue to navigate these extraordinary circumstances.
Thank you for your continued confidence and support. Stay safe.
The White Street Smiles Team
Dear Friends & Patients,
As you know, the situation regarding COVID 19 is rapidly evolving and we want you to know the precautionary measures we’ve established for the health and safety of our patients and staff – “Office Protocol”.
- Patients who have been out of the country in the past 2 weeks, OR feel ill (cough, fever, chills, difficulty breathing), OR believe they have been exposed, please call to reschedule routine appointments.
- Every effort will be made to see a patient who is in pain, or who has an urgent dental issue. Our Emergency On-Call System will remain active to help alleviate any burden to other health care workers.
- We have implemented additional office cleaning/sanitizing measures, including magazine removal from our waiting area.
White Street Smiles will continue to monitor information compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and update this page, as necessary.
Thank you and stay safe.
The White Street Smiles Team
