COVID-19 Updates

To our amazing patients:

Temple City Dental Care wishes you and your family safety and good health! We have missed seeing the beautiful smiles of our patients since the time all dental offices were advised to modify their schedules to see only emergency treatment. While many things have changed, our vision has not. Our commitment to your safety remains and is more focused than ever.

To make sure we can keep everyone as safe as possible, we have done extensive research and have closely followed all recommendations from the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Our office has always been vigilant and strict about our robust infection control procedures. However, given the nature of COVID-19, we have implemented additional protocols to better protect both you and ourselves. Please take the time to read over our changes before your next appointment to our office!

What to Expect at Your Next Appointment:

  • New to our office? We encourage you to call our office for an appointment at (626)285-3161 and fill out your New Patient Paperwork online HERE. Prefer to print out a form instead? Please download the PDF form HERE and bring the completed packet with you to your first appointment. We can’t wait to meet you!
  • Existing patients: While your next visit might involve a few more steps than you’re typically used to, please know that our entire dental team thanks you for helping us keep a safe and clean environment at Temple City Dental Care.
  • Patient Check-in: Upon arriving at our office, you will notice a sign in the parking lot with instructions to call or text our office that you have arrived. We kindly ask that you remain in your vehicle, and one of our amazing team members will greet you and bring you in shortly. We ask that patients avoid bringing friends and family to their appointments. Certain exceptions may be made for children, those with special needs, or those that require translators; all those entering the office will also be required to go through the screening process.

  • Screening: All patients will be asked a few screening questions on the phone and again when they arrive for their appointment. We will also take your temperature upon arrival with a contact-free forehead thermometer. If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, etc.), please call to cancel/re-schedule your appointment. We are waiving our last-minute cancellation fee policy for this reason.

    To preview the questions we will be asking you, please click HERE

  • Hand Sanitization: Please feel free to utilize the alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations located throughout the office, or the antibacterial hand soap located in the restrooms (20 seconds recommended). Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.
  • Mask/Face Coverings: As a universal precaution, all L.A. County residents are recommended to wear face coverings or masks. We kindly ask that you wear a mask anytime during your visit when treatment is not taking place.
  • Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette: Due to the nature of COVID-19 spreading through respiratory droplets, please cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (located throughout our office). Resort to coughing into your elbow if a tissue is not readily available. Never cough into your hands or open air.
  • Pre-procedural Mouthrinse: Prior to your procedure, we will have you gently rinse with Peroxyl® (1.5% hydrogen peroxide). This has shown to be effective at killing bacteria and viruses for a short time, so even if a patient does happen to be a silent carrier of the virus, this is intended to decreases the virus load in their mouth and the environment. Mmm, minty fresh!

  • As much as we love you, we will refrain from hugging and shaking hands in the meantime.
  • After Your Visit: It is a known fact that many individuals may have COVID-19 but exhibit little to no symptoms. Individuals may also be pre-symptomatic, as the incubation period of this particular coronavirus has been known to be up to 14 days. Therefore, even with all our precautions and screenings in place, we kindly ask that if you have any signs/symptoms of COVID-19 develop within two (2) days after your visit that you notify our office immediately. Due to COVID-19’s transmissibility, there is a possibility that you unknowingly carried the virus and were still seen for dental treatment. We have always taken universal precautions to disinfect all our rooms and equipment thoroughly between each patient. Rest assured that you will be seen in the cleanest of environments!

Office Upgrades:

  • HEPA Filtration: We have added True HEPA Air Purifiers in all patient areas and operatory rooms, designed to constantly filter, clean, and purify the air multiple times per hour.

  • Operatory Partitions: We have added plastic partitions for each operatory room to prevent the spread of air particles and keep our office air nice and clean.
  • Plexiglass Sneeze Guards and Sanitary Barriers: Yes, you’ll still see our amazing front office team! For now though, they’ll be behind be a few millimeters of plastic; we promise it’ll be the same smiling faces you’ve always been used to seeing!
  • Contactless Forms of Payment: We encourage you to utilize our contactless forms of payment whenever possible. Feel free to call in your payment over the phone as well.

Enhanced Disinfection Protocols:

  • ULV Disinfectant Sprayer/Fogger: On top of our already robust disinfection protocols, we have added new technology that allows us to use a fogger to routinely sanitize all surfaces with a hypochlorous acid disinfectant. What exactly is hypochlorous acid? It’s simply the chemical name for an effective disinfectant that is currently in use in many industries, including the food industry, grocery stores for produce sanitation, hospitals & health care facilities, and the water treatment industry. It is currently on the EPA list as effective against human coronavirus and is considered safe in and on food, dairy, and potable water.
  • Patient Areas: We have removed all shared reading materials, iPads, and our photobooth from our reception area for the time being. The number of patients in the office will be limited, with extended time between appointments to support social distancing and leave extra time for air filtration and robust disinfection.
  • Appointment Rooms: We will continue our premium medical-grade sterilization and disinfection techniques with all equipment, instruments, and contact surfaces. We will continue to utilize disposable sleeves and barriers for each patient.
  • Our Team: All team members will be screened at the beginning of each day for symptoms and forehead temperatures will be taken and recorded. All team members will be asked to stay home if they are not feeling well.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): You may notice our team wearing additional personal protective equipment to keep both them and you safe. Full body scrubs, gowns, face shields, N95 masks, and hair covers. Just think plastic Knights of the Round Table! All our team members have also been trained on best work practices in minimizing transmission of bacteria/viruses.

During this time, things may seem different in the dental office, just as they are in our regular lives (grocery shopping, sheltering at home, etc.). But different is okay. Please know that we will absolutely continue to evolve our protocols as the world learns more about this virus. In times of uncertainty and fear, we have been encouraged by the many instances of collective courage, love, compassion, and generosity that we see in our amazing San Gabriel Valley community.

While many offices now charge an additional fee due to the necessary but massive upgrade in personal protective equipment required to see each patient, we have intentionally chosen NOT to add a surcharge to our appointments at this time. In this time of a viral pandemic, we understand that times are tough for everyone, and this is one small way we wish to help our patients.

We will remain available by phone, as we have throughout this time, for emergencies, scheduling/rescheduling appointments, and any general inquiries you might have. Thank you for your ongoing trust, support, and for giving us the privilege to be your dental home. We place a huge emphasis on listening to our patients and the community, so please reach out to us if you have any feedback or recommendations to enhance your experience with us. Take care, stay safe, and we can’t wait to see you at your next visit!