How we're navigating challenges around COVID-19 (and how you can help)
August 4, 2021 Update:
To our patients, referring providers, and caregivers:
We are continually monitoring COVID-19 (and its variants). We understand that it is an ever-evolving public health emergency. And your health is our utmost priority. Following is information on our current practices:
1. Some best practices we’ll be following include:
Using telehealth appointments whenever possible
Screening patients for COVID-19 during appointment confirmation and on day of any office visit
Reviewing patient pain status and co-morbidities to determine course of action
Social distancing practices, including minimizing numbers in patient waiting area, adjusted seating to 6' apart, requiring masks for people in waiting area, offering car waiting, and decreasing number of patients seen in office at one time
Encouraging 0-1 escorts depending on appointment type
Using Cavicide 1 cleaner (confirmed-kill for Coronavirus) throughout office
Requiring staff and patients to do body temp checks and 1% H2O2 mouth rinse upon arrival
Utilizing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) N95 or level 3 masks, face shields, glasses, hair coverings, and jackets or gowns
2. We’re closely monitoring guidelines from relevant authorities:
Now offering all standard procedures at Drs. Benninger, Schween & Schmidt, we’ll be executing the utmost caution in how we render patient care. Our team is closely monitoring and adapting to recommendations from the following resources and authorities:
OSDB - The Ohio State Dental Board provides guidelines for the restart and continued operation of Ohio dental offices here.
ADA - The American Dental Association has given dentists guidance and resources in navigating this unprecedented time here.
OSHA - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides guidance for dentistry workers and employers here.
CDC - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined “Guidance for Providing Dental Care During COVID-19” here.
While it may not be “business as usual”, we’re honored to continue serving you and your oral and maxillofacial surgery needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns as we navigate these unprecedented times for both provider and patient.
May 6, 2020 Update:
To our patients, referring providers, and caregivers:
As many of you know, Governor Mike DeWine announced on April 27, 2020, that dental offices were permitted to open on May 1, 2020, to provide dental services to their patients. Naturally, this was a major development in how we serve your dental needs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only will we continue to serve the needs of patients with dental emergencies (as we have been throughout the course of the pandemic), but we'll also begin meeting some non-emergency dental needs as well.
Even though we’ll be bringing some additional procedures back into the fold, things might look a bit different in how we operate...
1. Some best practices we’ll be following include:
Attempting to limit one patient per provider whenever possible
Using telehealth appointments whenever possible
Continuing to delay procedures for those who are asymptomatic, yet high-risk
Screening patients for COVID-19 during appointment confirmation and on day of any office visit
Reviewing patient pain status and co-morbidities to determine course of action
Social distancing practices, including minimizing numbers in patient waiting area, adjusted seating to 6' apart, requiring masks for people in waiting area, offering car waiting, and decreasing number of patients seen in office at one time
Encouraging 0-1 escorts depending on appointment type
Using Cavicide 1 cleaner (confirmed-kill for Coronavirus) throughout office
Requiring staff and patients to do body temp checks and 1% H2O2 mouth rinse upon arrival
Utilizing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) N95 or level 3 masks, face shields, glasses, hair coverings, and jackets or gowns
2. Patients can expect changes in scheduling:
Many patient appointments have been re-scheduled or cancelled
Patients who were canceled have been put on a list and will be called ASAP (if not already) for possible rescheduling
Some patients with existing appointments may be asked to adjust their scheduled appointment times (due to provider-patient number limit guidelines)
Phones will continue to be answered M - F, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
3. We’re closely monitoring guidelines from relevant authorities:
In the responsible re-opening of all procedures offered by Drs. Benninger, Schween & Schmidt, we’ll be executing the utmost caution in how we render patient care. Our team is closely monitoring and adapting to recommendations from the following resources and authorities:
OSDB - The Ohio State Dental Board provides guidelines for the restart and continued operation of Ohio dental offices here.
ADA - The American Dental Association has given dentists guidance and resources in navigating this unprecedented time here.
OSHA - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides guidance for dentistry workers and employers here.
CDC - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined “Guidance for Providing Dental Care During COVID-19” here.
While it may not be “business as usual”, we’re honored to continue serving you and your oral and maxillofacial surgery needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns as we navigate these unprecedented times for both provider and patient.
March 27, 2020 Update:
To our patients, referring providers, and caregivers:
Our offices remain open to address your dental emergencies. We continue to execute measures to protect the health of our patients and staff.
Here’s the latest:
On Monday, March 15, 2020, we began rescheduling all non-essential surgeries.
We have added telehealth conferences to conduct exams and determine need.
Our phones will be answered from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm daily.
Our procedures remain the same as listed on the March 15, 2020 update (see below).
For patients requiring emergency procedures, you may be asked to wait in your car unless the waiting room is empty.
We continue to take the temperatures of patients, patient escorts, and our own team.
As always, the health of our patients and staff will remain our #1 priority. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this difficult time. We’ll continue to help our patients experiencing emergencies, and to the rest of you… we hope to see you soon!
March 15, 2020 Update:
To our patients, referring providers, and caregivers:
We recognize that now is a very difficult time for all of us as we navigate through the complexities of the COVID-19 viral pandemic. As your trusted Oral and Maxillofacial surgery providers, we want you to know that we are doing everything in our ability to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Our offices meet or exceed the infection control requirements set by the ADA, ODA, AAOMS, CDC, and OSHA. We disinfect all of our work areas after each patient and patient traffic areas are cleaned several times daily with the disinfectant, Cavicide1, which is approved by the CDC as suitable to kill Human Coronavirus.
The possible risk of COVID-19 spreading is something we would like to help control, so we are asking our patients for their assistance during this time:
If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with COVID-19, please call our office to be rescheduled after you have been given the all-clear from your physician.
If you or any member of your family are exhibiting flu-like symptoms that include fever, headache, dry-cough or respiratory distress, please contact our office to have your appointment rescheduled.
If you or any member of your family has traveled outside of the United States within the last two weeks, please inform our office team members immediately.
Please understand that we will be asking each patient these questions upon arrival to our facility and we may also include assessing body temperature as part of gathering your vital signs.
Although we have every intention of seeing our scheduled patients, any opportunity that we see for a telehealth visit will be taken.
Again, we recognize how complex and concerning the situation with COVID-19 is and we truly appreciate your participation with our office to do all we can to contain and mitigate this virus. Together, we can make a difference.