We hope this post finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing at Dr. Harper's has remained the same: our constant commitment to your safety.
As you have surely seen during your visit to our office, infection control has always been a top priority for our practice. Our strict processes have consistently made the care you receive at Dr. Harper's both safe and comfortable.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We continue to closely monitor the recommendations of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
When it is time for your next appointment, you may see some changes along with our already strict infection control protocols. For example:
*Our office with communicate with you ahead of your appointment to ask some screening questions. You'll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
*When entering the office, we will ask you to use hand sanitizer which we will supply. 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 reception area will no longer have magazines or other items which cannot be properly disinfected. You are encouraged to bring your own iPad, iPod, reading materials and personal headphones, etc. Since we will be unable to supply those at this time.
*When arriving at our office please stay in your car and call the office to let us know you are here. We will have a team member come out to greet you, go over a brief questionnaire and it is mandatory that you allow us to take your temperature. Anything above 100.4 we will reschedule your appointment.
*Appointments will be managed to allow social distancing between patients. That might mean that you are offered slightly limited options for scheduling your appointment.
*We will do our best to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the office at any one time.
**If you have been sick, had symptoms, traveled or had visitors in your home recently please be courteous and re-schedule your appointment.
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, our patients and team members safe in our practice.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients.
Sincerely,
Wayne C. Harper, D.D.S and Team
To our family of patients...and their families, friends, neighbors and co-workers,
I hope this message finds you well amid the current climate of uncertainty we are all facing. Needless to say, we are all being affected in unprecedented ways by the events surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. On local, state, national, and international levels, we are all in uncharted territory. My intention in this message to you is to inform you of the many steps we are now taking at the office to serve you best, and to ensure optimal levels of health and safety for you as we all navigate this situation together. Please read ALL of this and pardon the length...it’s more important for me to be thorough than brief!
Since the news and developments regarding COVID-19 are changing very rapidly, this is an admittedly imperfect message that can and will be updated as often as necessary to keep you, our valued patients, up to date. Ultimately, please know that we are committed to serving you at the highest levels possible, through any circumstances. We are also fully committed to minimizing risks to you, my excellent dental team members, and myself, as well as all our families and surrounding circles.
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Effective immediately, the following conditions and protocols
are in place at the dental office of Dr. Wayne C. Harper:
1: Until otherwise stated, we are currently OPEN for business, with our standard operating hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays through Wednesdays; and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Thursdays. Any potential adjustments of hours we are open will be communicated as necessary and without delay. Existing patients and new patients are welcome, as long as they are free of any symptoms of illness.
2: Our STANDARD sterilization and infection control practices already exceed all state and federal guidelines, including the elimination of all infectious viruses and bacteria...and COVID-19 is no exception. In addition, we are taking extra measures to protect you, including “double wiping” treatment areas and common countertops, doors and restrooms after each patient, and hourly regardless of patient volume. We are also minimizing any potential aerosol creation during dental treatment, including using little to no ultrasonic cleaning during hygiene visits. Finally, our dental masks offer extremely high levels of protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
3: If you or someone in your family is currently or has experienced ANY symptoms of illness (including fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms) during the last 14 days before your scheduled appointment, please notify us as soon as possible. We will happily reschedule your appointment to a future date at least two weeks after your latest reported date of being symptom free. You will incur no additional costs or fees due to any rescheduling as a result of your health conditions.
4: If you are advised by a health care professional to “self-quarantine” yourself due to recent travel OR potential exposure to COVID-19, OR others who have had potential exposure to the virus, please notify us as soon as possible. We will happily reschedule your appointment to a future date at least one week after the end date of your self-quarantine period. You will incur no additional costs or fees due to any rescheduling as a result of a self-quarantine situation.
5: My entire dental team, including myself, are under strict orders to monitor our own health and any potential symptoms of illness. In the event that anyone from my team experiences any symptoms of illness, each affected person must self-quarantine away from the office for a period of at least 2 weeks after the latest reported date of being symptom free. NOTE: Our schedule may need to be adjusted according to available doctor and/or team members if this situation arises.
6: If you happen to know of any family members, friends, co-workers or neighbors who are unable to see their own dentist because of limited availability, AND they have been symptom free for at least 2 weeks, we would be happy to see them for any necessary or requested treatment in our office, subject to appointment availability. We will also happily refer them back to their regular dentist after completion of their requested dental treatment. Our purpose here is to serve others who may be in need of care.
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My amazing dental team and I want to THANK YOU for entrusting us with caring for your oral health! We value our relationships with you, and we assure you that we are doing everything we can to continue to provide you with excellent experiences in our office. We are also dedicated to protecting your health, and the health of all those in our communities and beyond.
If you have ANY questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the following methods:
Phone OR Text: 352-867-7181 or 352-289-8532
Email: Ocalasmilesfrontdesk@gmail.com
When facing these challenging and uncertain times, we can overcome virtually anything when we all work together. We offer our prayers and warmest thoughts and wishes to you and your families and friends. We will emerge from this stronger, wiser and better prepared for the next challenges that come our way!
All my best,
Dr. Wayne Harper
SHOUT OUT to all of our hygienists for all that you do! We’re so grateful for you!
LET GO OF the “shoulds”! April is Stress Awareness Month, so take this month to be more mindful of your stress!
SLEEPING IN DENTURES is okay? FALSE. It’s important to give your gums and jaws a rest from the pressure, and your mouth and dentures both need cleaning!
DON’T KNOW IF YOU need a root canal? These signs may just tell you. If you have any of them, don’t dismiss them and come see us as soon as possible!
Ocala Promotions is at Wayne C. Harper, DDS.
January 25 at 9:00 AM · Ocala, FL ·
Happy Monday! Look how cool these ice packs and lip balms we did for Dr Wayne Harper turned out! We have lip balms in all sorts of fun flavors give us a call to find out more.