Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Our Community Care Promise
The last few months have been a difficult and scary time for many. We understand and share the concerns our patients have about leaving their homes, especially for a dental procedure. We want to assure you that the health and safety of anyone who enters our clinics is our number one priority. Our communities rely on us as an important part of their healthcare team and we take that responsibility very seriously. It is our privilege to help you smile and keep you healthy.
Our Responsibility to You
- Dentists have a professional, legal, and ethical responsibility to provide care in a manner that is both safe and effective.
- The health and safety of patients, the public, and practitioners is the top priority. All protocols for treatment and support will put safety first.
- The College’s guidance to dentists is informed by the direction provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Minister of Health, and others.
- Patients need continuity of care. Patients of record must have access to their dentist for guidance, support, and referral, where needed.
- Patient access to oral healthcare must be balanced with the risks of spreading COVID-19.
- Guidance is based on the best available evidence and data. In the absence of clear evidence, guidance will prioritize caution and safety.
- Return to practice will occur in welldefined stages that balance a return to the “new normal’ with the risks of spreading COVID-19, including the risks of a second wave of COVID-19.
- The College will prioritize the use of teledentistry to assess risk and appropriately triage patient needs.
*Taken from the RCDSO
Doing Our Part to Stop The Spread
- Screening questions
- Contactless check-in
- Mask required (in Ontario clinics)
We’re not trying to pry but we will have a few questions to ask you. This will ensure that everyone entering the clinic is feeling their best.
Same warm greeting but it will now be coming from behind some plexi-glass.
Patients will be asked to wear a mask until the start of their procedure and after their procedure is completed. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.
- Bare waiting area
- Covered up team members
We’re taking the minimalist route! This means no more magazines or coffee in the waiting room for now. This will help with our sanitization procedures.
Even though you won’t be able to see it, we’ll still be smiling behind our masks. But for our safety and yours, our teams will be wearing personal protective equipment.
- Extra sterilization
- Air purifiers
Dental clinics are probably one of the more sterile environments you can visit however, we will be increasing sanitization of common areas for increased precautions.
We have upgraded our air filtration systems to allow for even better air purification.
Supporting Our Community
Appointment Bookings
These new protocols mean we will not be able to see as many patients in a day as we used to. This is why we are prioritizing appointments for certain groups of people.
Senior or “high risk” patients: Priority for our first appointments of the day will be given to our most vulnerable populations.
Front Line Workers: We understand that front line workers are currently required to work long hours and shift work, which might mean they have less flexibility for health-related appointments of their own. We will support these essential workers by giving them as much flexibility as possible to be able to make it to their appointment. This might mean that we kindly request other patients so move their appointment to another time.
Donations
Ottawa Hospital Network: Personal Protective Equipment was donated to the Ottawa Hospital network to be used while our clinics were closed.
City of Ottawa: Toothbrushes, tooth paste, and floss was donated to the City of Ottawa to help support the shelter systems and its residents with basic oral hygiene.
Ottawa Food Bank: Frozen food items were donated to the Ottawa Food Bank as we know many residents of the city face food insecurity with the loss of income.
Supporting Our Staff
1. Extensive training on new protocols.
2. Brand new detailed Covid-19 Operation Training Manual.
3. Mask Fit Testing.
4. Additional Laundering Services for their scrubs and re-usable PPE.
5. Employee screening questions to ensure all team members are healthy.
6. Physical distancing measures when not treating patients.
7. Work Groups for larger practices. This means that if someone from the team is exposed to Covid-19 and required to quarantine, only their work team will need to be quarantined as opposed to the entire clinic staff.
What to Expect From Us
Before Your Appointment
- If you had an appointment scheduled during the clinic closures, please call us if we have not yet contacted you.
In Clinic
- Temperature being taken at the front desk.
- Only patient with an appointment will be allowed in (other than guardian or person requiring special assistance.
- Hand cleaning or sanitization upon entry into the clinic.
- Shoe covers and masks (Ontario) will be put on at entrance.
- Changes to the décor such as, few chairs in the waiting area.
Book an appointment
GET IN TOUCH
366, Aylmer Road
Gatineau (Aylmer)
Québec J9H 1A7
(819) 685 3368
(819) 685 2347
Proud Member of Capital Dentistry819-412-0044