COVID-19 Protocols

Updated 10/6/2022

In order to maintain a safe and healthy environment, we have updated the following protocols for our patients:

  • Masks are encouraged, but no longer required in public areas.

  • Patients must stay behind the sneeze guards when speaking with an employee at the front desk.

  • It is office policy to screen temperature and blood pressure for each patient.

  • Patients must answer screening questions regarding COVID-19 prior to start of visit.

  • If you use a pen from the office, keep it! All returned pens will be sanitized before next use.

  • Public areas, such as waiting rooms and bathrooms, are sanitized periodically throughout the day.

Vaccination Status Questions:  Periodontal Associates will not answer vaccination questions about our employees. According to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), the private healthcare information of an individual is protected, and may not be disclosed by other individuals. Each individual retains the right to answer for themselves, but they are not required to do so.  We realize this is an issue that many are passionate about, holding many different opinions.

We CAN tell you the following:

  1. All staff have been offered the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

  2. The dental community has maintained extremely low to almost zero COVID-19 transmission rates, throughout the country. So much so, that the Department of Health has commended dental offices and the ADA for their extremely high standards.

  3. We not only follow ADA (American Dental Association), CDC, and local PDA (Pennsylvania Dental Association) guidelines regarding best practices, but have taken steps to go above and beyond those recommendations.

  4. You may ask the employee about their vaccination status, however, they are not required to answer your question, and our office will not force them to disclose that information.

We acknowledge that you reserve the right to seek care from a provider that you are most comfortable with. We have always been passionate about clinical safety and health, and as oral healthcare providers, striven to provide the best care possible in a clean and well-maintained environment. Our care has always been focused on protocols and personal protective equipment that goes above and beyond to ensure safety for all parties and prevent the spread of not only COVID-19, but any other communicable disease.

These protocols are subject to change as governmental, CDC, and other applicable standards are recommended.

For more information on COVID-19 and how it affects dental practices, please click here.