COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Masks No Longer Required Throughout Clinics, April 17, 2023
Effective April 17, 2023, Dental Associates will not require masking within our clinics. As we continue to monitor respiratory illnesses, Dental Associates reserves the right to require masking at any time should community transmission levels change. We ask that you please mask if you have a cough or any respiratory symptoms to protect those around you.
Self-screen for COVID symptoms before you visit
We appreciate patients, visitors, vendors, and delivery personnel screening themselves for COVID-19 symptoms before entering our locations. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or have any of the following symptoms, please consider your COVID-19 testing options or call our office before attending your appointment:
- Chills or fever
- Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle, body aches or headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Your health and safety are important to us. If you would like to wear a mask, we encourage you to do so. Additionally, if you would prefer your direct dental team mask, please let the clinic know.
COVID-19 Updates Prior to April 17, 2023...
Dental Associates Patients:
We understand and respect that many of our patients are concerned regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Wisconsin and beyond. Dental Associates further reiterates that it is indeed safe to visit our clinics right now. A study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found the prevalence of COVID-19 among dentists to be less than one percent. Rest assured we are taking strict measures to keep you and our staff safe. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation with your overall health and safety in mind.
How we’re protecting our patients
Please know we are taking every precaution to protect your overall health and wellness and to uphold our mission and treat everyone like family.
To keep our patients, team members, and community safe, we have implemented these new guidelines:
- Screening. Everyone goes through COVID-19 symptom screening upon entering our clinics.
- Masking. Anyone entering our offices is required to wear a mask. We will provide you with one at your visit if you don’t have one. The CDC’s recent update using community levels to determine masking requirements do not apply to healthcare settings.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Our teams are utilizing additional PPE which may include isolation gowns, impervious lab coats, face shields, higher-level masks, gloves, and specialized products and equipment to control aerosols.
- Social distancing. Our waiting rooms have been rearranged and our clinics have modified their check-in process to minimize contact.
- Cleaning. In addition to normal infection-control protocols, we’ve enhanced our cleaning practices, especially for high-touch spaces.
- Reduced traffic. Appointment times are staggered to reduce traffic. We are requesting that adult patients arrive unaccompanied and minors are accompanied by only one guardian.
- Video visits. Teledentistry visits may also be available as an alternative to in-person appointments.
COVID-19 Update, August 2021
Dental Associates continues to strictly follow guidance from the CDC, Wisconsin DHS, WDA, OSHA, and other agencies. Per this guidance, masks are to be worn by our staff, patients, and visitors. Further precautionary measures are still being taken to ensure your safety including enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE), frequent cleaning and disinfection, screening of anyone who enters our buildings, social distancing, and reduced traffic. We are dedicated to providing our patients dental care in a safe environment and have taken these additional measures to protect you.
COVID-19 Update, December 2020
Dental Associates further reiterates that it is indeed safe to visit our clinics right now. A study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found the prevalence of COVID-19 among dentists to be less than one percent. Rest assured we are taking strict measures to keep you and our staff safe. Learn more about these practices on our Safe Visit Pledge page.
Governor Evers' Executive Order #94, November 10, 2020
Yes, we’re open.
On November 10, 2020, Governor Evers announced Executive Order #94, which encourages Wisconsin residents to stay home whenever possible and offered precautions on how to stay safe. At Dental Associates, we’ve been practicing strict precautions during this entire COVID-19 pandemic to assure the safety and wellbeing of our patients and team members.
This order did not mandate that businesses like ours suspend operations. Dental care has been deemed an essential business and is extremely important to your overall health. Therefore, we plan to maintain the course and remain committed to our strict safety protocols. We encourage you to read our Safe Visit Pledge to learn more about the precautions we take to keep you safe during your visit.
COVID-19 Update, August 13, 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended postponing routine dental care during COVID-19. Please keep in mind they represent the entire world. Standards in the United States are far higher, and we continue to follow the guidance of the American Dental Association (ADA), who states it is safe to receive care with proper PPE and by adhering to strict infection control standards. Dental Associates always makes your safety a top priority. Please visit our Safe Visit Pledge for additional information.
COVID-19 Update, July 2020
Our clinics are back to providing full care at all our dental clinics. If you have a question about an upcoming appointment or need to reschedule a canceled appointment, please call your clinic and we will be happy to assist you.
COVID-19 Update, May 27, 2020
Clinics Starting to Provide Elective Care in June
During this journey of unprecedented times, providing safe patient care has been the focus of our operations. We want to sincerely thank you for being patient and supportive as we return to providing full dental care.
We are carefully working to restore normal business operations based on updated CDC guidelines, and will begin offering routine and elective care in June, including hygiene (cleaning appointments).
We continue to provide urgent care to existing and new patients. Please call your clinic if you have a dental concern that you would like addressed. Video visits may also be available as an alternative to in-person appointments.
To keep our patients, team members, and community safe, we have implemented these new guidelines:
- Screening. Everyone goes through COVID-19 symptom screening and has their temperature taken upon entering our clinics.
- Masking. Anyone entering our offices is required to wear a mask. We will provide you one at your visit if you don’t have one.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Our teams are utilizing additional PPE to include isolation gowns, impervious lab coats, face shields, higher-level masks, gloves and specialized products and equipment to control aerosols.
- Social distancing. Our waiting rooms have been rearranged and our clinics have modified their check-in process to minimize contact.
- Cleaning. In addition to normal infection-control protocols, we’ve enhanced our cleaning practices, especially for high-touch spaces.
- Reduced traffic. Appointment times are staggered to reduce traffic. We are requesting that adult patients arrive unaccompanied and minors are accompanied by only one guardian.
Safe Visit Pledge
We are dedicated to providing our patients dental care in a safe environment and have taken additional measures to protect you. Learn more about our Safe Visit Pledge.
COVID-19 Update, April 28, 2020
Clinics Continuing to Provide Limited Services into May
We are extending our April 9 suspension of normal operations into May and will continue to provide emergency and essential care to patients of record.
Please see additional information below for patients who had upcoming appointments scheduled.
COVID-19 Update, April 9, 2020
Clinics Continuing to Provide Limited Services
Dental Associates Patients:
Following guidance from state and federal agencies, the ADA, WDA, and the CDC, we are suspending normal clinic operations through the month of April.
We will continue to provide emergency and essential care by appointment only to active patients of record.
If you had an appointment canceled during the COVID-19 stay at home order, we will contact you when we begin resuming normal operations. Please check our website for the latest update, as the situation continues changing.
What Is “Essential Care?”
Essential care includes, but is not limited to, the following procedures:
- Root canal therapy
- Teeth extractions due to infection, pain, and swelling
- Dental crown/bridge recement
- Denture adjustments due to extreme pain and/or an ill-fitting appliance
Emergency dental care: if you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency and are an active patient of record at one of our clinics, please call your clinic and our team will assist you. Bleeding, swelling, and pain are signs your dental concern needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Additional Information for Orthodontics Patients
Keeping your treatment on track is our priority, and our orthodontists are evaluating their patients’ cases individually to determine the best course of action while our clinics are closed. Most orthodontic treatment can be temporarily delayed with minimal impact on the overall case.
If you are an Invisalign patient, your orthodontist may be able to send your next set of trays in the mail. If this is not an option for your case, please be assured that we will work together on an adjusted treatment plan when we have reopened. If you have run out of trays, please continue wearing your last set while you sleep to maintain your progress to date.
If you have additional questions about your continued care during this time, please call your clinic and our team will assist you.
We are continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with your overall health and safety in mind and will provide additional updates as they become available.
COVID-19 Update, April 1, 2020
Clinics Providing Limited Services
Dental Associates Patients:
We are continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with your overall health and safety in mind.
Through the month of April, we will continue to provide emergency and essential care by appointment only to active patients of record.
Our team continues to seek guidance from State and Federal agencies, the American Dental Association (ADA), Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of our staff and patients, and all decisions made are surrounding this effort. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
What if I have an appointment scheduled in April?
Within three to five days of your scheduled appointment, we will notify you via email or telephone to cancel, confirm or reschedule. We will not utilize our text message reminder capabilities during this time.
What if I have a dental emergency?
We are here to provide emergency care for all active Dental Associates patients during our adjusted hours and after-hours.
During this crisis, your dental emergencies continue to be one of our highest priorities. If you are an active patient of record and are experiencing pain, swelling or have a dental issue, please call your Dental Associates clinic and our team will assist you. Clinic hours vary due to COVID-19's impact on normal operations. If you leave a message, we will call you back as soon as possible or you may be prompted to connect to our on-call team.
How we're protecting our Patients
In addition to our elevated safety procedures, we are consistently monitoring how we can provide the safest care possible—for both our patients and staff. Because of this, we have implemented additional patient and staff screening procedures.
COVID-19 Update, March 18, 2020
Dental Associates Patients:
We understand and respect that many of our patients are concerned regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Wisconsin and beyond. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation with your overall health and safety in mind.
From March 18, to April 6, 2020, our clinics will cease providing care for all elective procedures including hygiene appointments, routine procedures, and orthodontic care. Four clinics will be able to provide emergency care by appointment only, including oral surgery to active patients of record.
Our team made this difficult decision based on the recommendation from the American Dental Association (ADA), Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of our staff and patients, and all decisions made are surrounding this effort. At this time, we plan to reopen all clinics on April 6, 2020, but will notify you if this date changes.
What if I have an appointment between March 18 and April 6?
If you have an appointment for the following care between now and April 6, a member of our team will be calling you to reschedule your appointment.
- Dental hygiene appointments
- Routine exams
- Orthodontic care
- Elective procedures that can be placed on hold, including, but not limited to, teeth extractions and root canals
How we’re protecting our patients
If your oral health care needs determine a visit to our clinics is absolutely necessary, please know we are taking every precaution to protect your overall health and wellness, and to uphold our mission and treat everyone like family.
Clinic cleanliness and sanitization:
- We will clean commonly used spaces every hour. This includes reception desks, waiting areas, and wash stations.
- We will sanitize restrooms more frequently.
- We will refill hand sanitizer fixtures throughout clinics more frequently.
- We will continue to be vigilant in the sanitization and cleanliness of our operatories.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and evaluate additional measures to support our patients and communities as needs arise.
For additional information about COVID-19, get the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov or your local health department website.