COVID-19 NOTICE

Dear SDA Families,

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and we are all looking forward to resuming normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety and overall dental health. 

While the COVID situation continues to evolve, Southern Dental Associates remains fully committed to providing excellent patient care. We are currently encountering staffing shortages as well as significant delays in our supply chain. These shortages may create a delay in our scheduling availability and longer than usual wait times. We are diligently working to make sure that these circumstances minimally impact your visits and the quality of care that we have provided and continue to provide. Our team at SDA thanks you for your patience and understanding as we work our way through this unprecedented time.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.

You will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• If you or any family members have had any of the following symptoms, please do not visit our office. We request that you contact our office as soon as you are able to reschedule your appointment.
  • Fever within the last 14 days
  • Cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Recent loss of taste or smell
  • Any contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19
• All patients will be pre-screened upon confirming their appointment. You will be asked a series of questions recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). You’ll be asked those same questions again when you present to the office.
• We are taking additional precautions with our staff and doctors. All employees go through the same prescreening protocols as our patients.
• Until further notice, we will need to limit entry into our waiting area. The check-in process will vary depending on the scheduled time. If you do not see an SDA team member readily available at the front entrance, please call the office to alert us of your arrival. An SDA team member will come out to review the pre-screening questions, and will need to take temperatures. If you do see an SDA team member at the entrance, you may report in person for the screening process, and they will direct you accordingly. 
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use prior to entering the practice. You will also find some in the reception area, and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Our appointment schedule has been reduced to allow for extra precautions with our safety and sanitation protocols. This might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
• We will not be able to permit any visitors to accompany patients unless they have a disability, need additional assistance, or are a minor requiring supervision (specific restrictions apply). Any visitor that is permitted will need to be pre-screened, have their temperature taken, and have a face covering. We will not be able to provide this face covering, so please come prepared. For additional information regarding this policy, please contact our office and our administrative staff will be happy to assist you further. 

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. 

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,

Drs. Liner, Ward, and Shobe