At our practice, we are taking guidelines provided by the California Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Here are some of the steps that we taking to safeguard our patients and our staff:

1. Before performing any treatment, we will take the temperature of every patient and accompanying adult. If a patient OR accompanying adult has a fever or any other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or chest pain), we will re-schedule them.

2. If a patient or accompanying parent has participated in any large gatherings (more than 50 attendees) or been outside of the U.S. in the last 14 days, we will re-schedule them.

3. If a patient has an orthodontic emergency and has a fever, any COVID symptoms or has been outside the U.S. or in any large gathering (or has a household member with the aforementioned criteria), we will see him/her after hours when there are no other patients in the office.

4. All of our staff are asked to self-monitor by remaining alert to any respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) and check their temperature twice a day regardless of the presence of other symptoms. If a staff member develops a fever or respiratory symptoms, they will be asked to seek medical evaluation and not return to work until their physician has established that it is safe for them to return to work.

5. All of our clinical staff are asked to wear N95 (or equivalent) masks, goggles (or glasses), face-shields, and disposable gowns.

6. We have adjusted the check-in process to keep our waiting-room traffic to an absolute minimum. Teens and older patients are asked to come into the office without any adults. We will call all parents/guardians the same evening if there is any need to discuss the treatment. Younger patients can be accompanied by only one adult.

7. To reduce the spread of aerosol. We have invested in an extra-oral dental aerosol vacuum machine. 

8. Since SARS-CoV-2 may be vulnerable to oxidation, we will use hydrogen peroxide as a pre-procedural mouth rinse for all patients.

9. We have removed all magazines, reading materials, and objects that may be touched by others and which are not easily disinfected 

Thank you for your continued trust in our practice. 

Dr. Bobby Shemirani