Dear Patients,

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. My families both at home and in the office are all well and certainly looking forward to returning to a “new normal” schedule.

Dentistry, as you know, is an essential service, but has only been available for painful emergencies. At this time, routine procedures, including cleanings, are not allowed to be performed.

We hope to be notified shortly when we can resume normal office hours. This will be determined by Governor Cuomo and other authorities. We are considered Phase 2.

I am writing to update you on what to expect upon your return. We are taking every precaution and have developed new protocol to ensure the safety of everyone. Please feel free to click the links to explore more information for each protocol.

Your visit will begin as such:

- A warm phone call from our office manager, Tracey, to arrange your appointment and to review a short Pre-Appointment Screen. We may ask you to relax in your car and Tracey will call/text you to come up via the brand new, quiet, and trustworthy elevator.

- As always, our door will be open to avoid unnecessary contact. As you walk in, you will be greeted with the smell of fresh flowers and soft music through our Sonos speakers.

- Please don’t be surprised when Tracey welcomes you behind a clear plexiglass barrier for everyone’s safety, and may be donned with a mask and other PPE.

- She will ask you to kindly step in front of the automatic wall- mounted non-contact infrared forehead thermometer to record your temperature.

- Artistically designed motion-activated hand sanitizer stations will be available at the front desk counter and all treatment rooms.

- The reception room will have only three chairs. Sadly, we will not display our interesting magazines. Our books on travel, flowers and cookbooks can be viewed from afar at this time.

- If you like, please place your cell phone to be recharged and/or sanitized using the UV Box. Tracey will oversee its safety.

- You will be greeted by Nicolas, Nafeesa, Kathleen, or I (please accept our virtual hand shake/hug), and will then be escorted to your treatment room. The extremely comfortable A-dec leather chair is covered with a fitted clear disposable film barrier.

- Our countertops will be free and clear. Only the essentials such as gloves, masks, soap and sanitizer will be present.

- The new 24”computer monitors are now wall-mounted. I came across hygienic keyboards made by Wet Keys. They are designed to be copiously sprayed and wiped with disinfectant. The keyboard is slim and impenetrable. It can even be placed in a dishwasher! (Tip: Keep the USB connection out of the dishwasher!)

- Each treatment room will have high wall-mounted Sonos One speakers for you to ask Alexa to play your favorite music. We have many music sources for you to enjoy including: Pandora Plus, Napster, Spotify, or my personal favorite, Deezer Premium which streams Lossless FLAC. Our television is of course available, however simple peace and quiet may be preferred.

- To reduce nascent oral bacteria, we will ask you to do a 30-second “pre-procedural” rinse with Listerine.

- Before your procedure, we will wash our hands with warm, soapy water. We will then place our mask, visor and gloves, and commence treatment with our "patented" light touch.

- We will be installing the ADS Extra Oral Suction Unit that is positioned close to the oral cavity and evacuates all aerosol that is generated during procedures. I am most excited for this as it is a true game changer!

- Ceiling-mounted air purification units Clean Air UV-24 have been installed throughout the suite. They filter and disinfect the air automatically three times per hour using UV-C technology.

- Nicolas and I will often be using Rubber Dam Technique, which is a latex-free “gasket” that isolates the working area from salivary contamination and unwanted aerosol.

- Priding ourselves as a high-quality, unique, private practice setting, we will work uninterrupted. In the rare case that we are called away, we will return by washing hands, re-gloving, etc.

- Upon completion, the treatment will be reviewed and all of your questions will be answered. You will be escorted to Tracey at the front desk. At this time, the treatment room is completely sanitized using CDC Protocols. All surfaces will be treated with CaviCide or diluted bleach. Equipment will be treated with Optim 33TB and new cellophane barriers will be placed.

- We will do our best to reduce the use of paper and pens. Tracey has an “eagle-like eye” to disinfect what is touched.

- During the course of the day, we will use mobile UV light technology. One is placed in each treatment room, along with the Reception Room. UV technology is completely safe and extremely effective to kill pathogens.

- At time of writing, I am in negotiations to acquire the stealth ceiling mounted Helo -F1 for each treatment room. After speaking with several companies, I feel Puro Lighting has the edge because their Xenon light technology pulsates every 6 seconds with strong UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C wavelengths. Additionally, along with ozone, it eliminates 99.9% of any bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the treatment room. The MTA purchased 150 of their units to disinfect NYC subways and buses every night.

- To ensure the UV light is calibrated and effective, I use American Ultraviolet Technology Dosimeters.

As you can see, this is our “new normal”. We are excited to have adopted these new measures and protocols to protect your health and safety.

These are very unique times and we are always looking for ways to improve. Although every industry has been affected, we are optimistic about creating a safe and unique experience to ensure your comfort and well-being. I am looking forward to our new protocol and patient experience. It is being welcomed - not challenged or diminished. Even while changes are happening rapidly in our world, our commitment to you has not...

Please remember and be assured that your oral health care and safety will always be our number one priority.

It is our pleasure to serve you.

“We’ll see you on the other side” - Pilot James Lovell, Apollo 8 Mission

Joseph P. Fusco DDS MAGD RVCdentist.com