Covid-19 Protocol

A LETTER TO OUR PATIENTS

As we all continue to navigate the pandemic, Pla & Watts Endodontics remains committed and strong in caring for our patients’ health and well-being. Our practices in Tacoma and Puyallup have dedicated team members who continue to put your safety and care first. Feel rest assured and protected when you enter our office for root canal treatments, surgical endodontics, or traumatic dental injuries as we uphold the highest of standards for attentive, advanced, and compassionate oral health.

We extend our support to each of you and your families during these challenging times. We remain resolute together.

Together in health,
Dr. Loubna Pla and Dr. Robert Kristopher Watts

At Pla & Watts Endodontics, our highest priorities are the health and safety of our patients, dental team, and community. Due to COVID-19 and in accordance with the latest recommendations from the CDC, ADA, and OSHA, we have implemented the following to our already impeccable Infection Control Standards. Please read the pre-screening guidelines and our new protocols below.

Pre-screening guidelines
Please let us know if:
•  you have traveled out of the state or country in the last 14 days.
•  you have experienced a fever (even low-grade), dry cough, or difficulty breathing within the last 14 days.
•  you have come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Please help us do our part for everyone's safety:
• Please stay home if you are sick
• Wash your hands before and after an appointment.
• Bring only one essential accompanying person to your appointment if at all needed.
• Please let us know if you would like to reschedule or do not feel comfortable being seen at this time. 
• Please wait in your car and have us call you when we are ready to see you.

OUR PROTOCOL

We appreciate your understanding as continue to help control the spread of the Coronavirus. We remain open due to our carefully planned and revised office procedures to minimize the risk of infection for our patients and team members. Rest assured that we will take care of you as we do with our own families. 

1. Waiting Room 
To keep you and our staff safe and healthy, only one patient at a time is allowed in our waiting room. If necessary, a parent or caregiver of the patient may briefly enter the office. Only 3-4 patients at a time are allowed in the office. You must wear a mask when you enter the building and practice social distancing in common areas of the office, including the front desk. Upon arrival, if patients don’t have a mask, you are provided one. 

All patients are immediately taken to their treatment room where they are isolated from other patients and front office staff. Each individual treatment room has barriers that separate and maintain a minimum of 6 feet distance. One-way traffic is practiced –patients enter in the front entrance and will exit through the back entrance.

2. Health Screening
Each patient’s temperature is taken with a digital forehead thermometer. The thermometer is disinfected between each use. Patients are screened with questions relating to COVID-19 symptoms prior to their appointment, upon arriving at the office and again before treatment.  Assistants are wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) during this process. Doctors and employees are recording their temperatures and logging the results daily. 
Patients with a fever or other symptoms will be asked to reschedule. 

3. Sick Employee Policy
If a Doctor or employee has any questionable symptoms or generally doesn’t feel well, they are asked to stay home and COVID-19 testing is encouraged and provided.  If a Doctor or an employee tests positive for COVID 19, they are required to stay home for 14 days and until cleared by a doctor to return.

3. Extensive Cleaning
All rooms are completely sterilized before each patient is seated, and public areas are cleaned and sterilized frequently throughout the day.  Our team strictly follows CDC, OSHA, and ADA guidelines for office sterilization. We test our waterlines quarterly to ensure safe levels. Our sterilization equipment is tested weekly to maintain quality infection control. 

4. Maintaining Safety
Shield barriers are in place at the front desk to protect against respiratory droplets, and after every transaction, the checkout desk and credit card terminal are wiped with disinfectant. We are proceeding with an abundance of caution, but we want you to feel confident that any visit to our office will be a safe one. 

5. Adhering to ADA, CDC, and OSHA
The 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 are strictly adhered to in our office. And we keep up to date on new rulings and infection control procedures.

6. Appointments
To allow for social distancing, appointments will be spaced to allow more time between patients. We’ll communicate with you beforehand to complete a COVID-19 screening form, and we ask that you arrive on time. Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellation so that we can manage the schedule to keep you safe. When it’s time for your appointment, you’ll notice the changes we made to protect you and our dental team. 

7. Hygiene
Shield barriers are at the front office desk; hand sanitizers and tissues are available throughout the office. Restrooms have hand soap, water, and paper towels. After patients use restrooms, they are wiped down and sprayed with disinfectant.  Reminder signs are posted on our front door for hygiene protocol (covering coughs and sneezes). An email is sent prior to the appointment discussing changes due to COVID19. Patients are given hydrogen peroxide to swish in mouth for 30-60 seconds, before consult/treatment. The tooth being treated is disinfected with Sodium hypochlorite and isolated with a rubber dam prior to treatment.

8. Personal Protection Equipment
Face coverings are required for employees and patients. Please wear a face mask at all times in our office except during dental treatment. Our team will be wearing masks (Level 3, KN 95, Respirators, Face shields). Goggles, gloves, gowns, and head coverings are also being used chairside during treatment. We have hand sanitizer that we ask you to use when you enter the office. 

9. HEPA Filtration System
As an extra precaution, we’ve installed an air filtration system in each room. Though our doctors and dental team will look very different wearing their PPE, we promise that we’re still the same people you’ve come to trust and will be providing the same personal care that we always have. 

Should you have any concerns, feel free to contact us. You can count on Dr. Pla, Dr. Watts, and our team – all dedicated to your health and comfort.