Please find below a letter about what you should expect on your next dental appointment based on the new rules and regulations that have come about due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact our office at 713-522-6366. We miss you and care for you.

Dear Patients and Parents:

We hope this message 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 has remained the same: OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR SAFETY.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) and Harris county requirements. We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agency recommendations.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
• If you feel sick or have any upper respiratory symptoms or believe that you have a fever, please remain in your house and contact your Medical Doctor.
• Be prepared that your dental visit will take a little longer than usual as new measurements take more time. We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
• You will notify us upon your arrival and remain in the car until we clear the reception area for you to come in. Companions will need to wait in your vehicle.
• Upon check-in your temperature will be taken.
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use or we will ask you to wash your hands with soap when you enter the office. You are expected to wear a mask for your protection. If you do not have a mask or face cover, we may not allow you to enter the office. We do not provide medical masks to patients due to an overall shortage.
• You may see that our reception area will no longer provide magazines, brochures, or toys.
• We may provide a peroxide rinse for you to gargle in order to inactive any viral load in your oral cavity.
• For minor patients (children under 18), one adult will be allowed during the appointment and no other companion will be permitted in the office during the appointment. For patients over the age of 18, no accompaniment will be permitted unless the patient requires special assistance. For families with more than one child, only one adult will be allowed to accompany their children into the office.

We look forward to seeing you again and we are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (713) 522-6366.

Thank you for being our patient, we value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcome back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Urbach, DDS, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Alan Urbach, DDS, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist