COVID-19 Patient FAQ

When Will The Office Get Back To Regular Business?

In accordance with the Governor’s recommendations to limit operations through May 1, 2020, the office resumed regular business on Monday May 4, 2020.

We Are Asking Patients To Stay In Their Car And Call Us When They Arrive. A Team Member Will Call The Patient When It Is Time For Them To Come Into The Office And The Patient Will Then Proceed Directly To Their Care Area.

Is It Safe To Visit The Dentist?  How Do I Know The Office Is Safe And Fully Disinfected?  Is It Safe To Sit In The Reception Room?

Dental practices and other businesses will reopen before Covid-19 is completely contained as a health threat, which means there will still be some fear about being infected by the virus.  Even before the Covid-19 outbreak, our office followed strict infection control guidelines that would have prevented the transmission of the Covid-19 (or any other virus) to our patients or team. Out of an abundance of caution, we have added extra personal protective equipment (ppe) and increased the frequency and thoroughness of our sanitizing procedures and we are following all safety procedures recommended by the center for disease control, American Dental Association, and OSHA. We have added enhanced infection control procedures including screening every patient and team member for any signs or symptoms of illness.  We ask that our elderly patients and those with underlying diseases notify us so Dr. Gallegos can determine when to see you.  We have always cleaned our reception area every night. Now, we are also cleaning it and the building common areas throughout the day while paying special attention to wiping down chairs, door handles, and other items which patients frequently touch. We have also made changes in the reception area and to our scheduling process to allow for increased physical distancing.

Have Any Of Your Staff Members Been Sick Or Tested Positive For The Virus?

None of our staff members in the office are presently ill or had Covid-19. If a staff member is showing symptoms, we require that individual to stay home. We are being especially careful and recommending that anyone with fever, cough, shortness of breath or body aches and chills contact their doctor as soon as possible and self-quarantine.

Should I Come To My Dental Appointment Alone?

We are continuing to practice physical distancing at our office until it is safe to do otherwise. We ask that you do not bring any other individuals into the office for your appointment unless they are also receiving treatment or if you need them to provide assistance.

Should I Cancel My Appointment If I Or Someone Other Than Me Is Sick In Our Household?

If you or anyone in your household is sick, or under quarantine, we want to postpone your appointment for at least three weeks.

Will There Be A No-Show Fee If I Am Unable To Keep My Appointment For Reasons Related To COVID-19?

We consider all appointments as confirmed at the time they are made; we ask that you give us at least two business days advance notice if you will not be able to visit us due to Covid-19 crisis-related circumstances.  We will not be charging missed appointment fees related to Covid-19 illnesses.

What If I Am Unable To Pay For My Dental Care?

We understand that Covid-19 has put many of our patients into challenging financial situations. If you find it difficult to pay for your necessary dental care, we would be happy to discuss options to ease your burden. At our office, we make sure dental care remains affordable by offering many options for payment. We offer flexible payments and plans to assist you in getting your necessary dental care. If you have questions about cost and financing please give us a call.  We do not want finances to get in the way of you being healthy. Postponed preventive and restorative treatment can lead to more serious medical issues and higher expenses.