X

Hello Patients,

It is with mixed emotions that I write this email. The decision on when we should re-open has been very difficult given all of the requirements needed to begin care. Some of us also have the added complication of childcare providers not ready to accept our children just quite yet. As your dental healthcare provider, these facts are mixed with knowing there are many of you in need of dental care and patiently waiting to have those needs met.

As you know, Governor Reynolds lifted the mandate preventing non-emergent dental care, effective May 8, 2020. However, this did not mean we could open our doors for business as usual. There are requirements placed within the new proclamation that we must meet before we are able to see patients. The first is compliance with the new Iowa Dental Board guidelines. These detailed guidelines were just released on Wednesday, May 5, 2020. I am working hard to incorporate all of these new precautions and measures into our daily protocols. Second, we must have adequate Personal Protective Equipment and a reliable supply chain as we can not rely on the state to supply this for us. I have been working diligently to acquire PPE, but have not yet received what would be required to open the practice. The expectation from suppliers is that this will start to loosen within the next couple of weeks and start shipping out. At this time, no one knows for sure what this date will be.

Safety is of the utmost importance to us. While we have always followed strict infection control procedures, there are additional guidelines to be put in place to maintain social distancing and sanitation. In order to ensure the safety of our patients and team, the transition to re-open must be very methodical. For this reason, we will not be open for patient care until June 1, 2020. We will use the week after Memorial Day to train and practice the new protocols and also to evaluate and work on the schedule.

Priority will be given to urgent and emergency care appointments as we start to slowly re-open and build the schedule. Please be aware that pre-scheduled hygiene appointments might be changed. Appointment availability will differ from our regular schedule, so please be patient with us as we navigate this new normal. Also, let us know if you have any appointment that you are not comfortable keeping at this time. We understand and will work with you to find a more suitable time for you. There will be no repercussions if you aren’t comfortable returning yet.

I want to, again, thank you all for being patient during all of this. Please continue to show us some grace as we figure all of this out. We want to be able to serve you both efficiently and safely.

I am available for dental emergencies that cannot wait until we re-open and can be reached at 402-1640.

Thank you again for understanding. I know this is and has been very difficult. I promise we will be seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Dr. Amanda Foust

If you would like to join our patient waitlist for when we re-open please fill out the following form:
Patient Wait List

Month: April 2015

Learn About Dental Bridges

Posted April 28, 2015 by Dr. Foust

Suffering with an open space in your smile can cause you to feel a wide array of emotions, none of which are positive. First, you may feel disappointment if the open space is the result of a problem like periodontal disease. You may also deal with embarrassment when it comes to the way your smile looks… Read more »

Reasons You May Need A Dental Crown

Posted April 24, 2015 by Dr. Foust

Did we recently tell you that you need a dental crown to save your tooth? If so, you probably assume this is a very good decision since you would like to keep your smile intact. However, when it comes to any restorative treatment, you are likely interested in learning more about the details before you… Read more »

About Your Dental Filling: Q&A

Posted April 10, 2015 by Dr. Foust

Few people – if any – jump for joy when they learn they have a cavity. And even less exciting, we find, is when we suggest a dental filling to address cavities. While we understand your hesitation and lack of enthusiasm, we hope you will learn more about fillings by asking your questions and having… Read more »

All About Dental Sealants: A Quiz

Posted April 3, 2015 by Dr. Foust

Have you ever wondered why there isn’t some way to thoroughly protect teeth from dental plaque? Certainly, if you could keep plaque from coming into contact with teeth, the incidence of tooth decay would drop considerably. Right? While we cannot completely seal each of your teeth, we do offer sealants. Not sure what to expect… Read more »