Familia Dental is taking extra precautions to keep our communities safe. It’s our Safe Dental Care commitment, and you’ll find it at every one of our 42 locations across six states.
We’ve gathered useful information to empower you to take control of your dental health needs. Read through our FAQ for answers to your questions about visiting the dentist. Please feel free to give us a call if you require more information.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Due to COVID-19, there are additional safety precautions in place at our offices. These have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association®.
- Our dentists and assistants wear masks and additional PPE when seeing patients, so a dental procedure can be perfectly safe for you.
- Staff will also take many extra precautions, including having health screenings and daily temperature checks, and being required to change from their street clothes and shoes to scrubs (or vice versa) before entering or exiting the practice.
- Everyone entering a Familia Dental office will be screened for fever and asked about COVID-19 symptoms and recent travel. Patients exhibiting symptoms will not be seen by the dentist and should proceed to reschedule their appointment.
- You have the option to wait in your car for your appointment after checking in at the front desk. This helps us keep our offices clean and prevent crowding in the waiting areas.
The health of our patients, employees and community is of utmost importance.
- Familia Dental providers have access to the latest guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA).
- Employees are trained in the use of personal protective equipment and have been supplied sufficient personal protective equipment to safely see patients.
- As the virus spread throughout communities, our offices reduced their patient flow, working in small teams to provide emergency dental services. Our clinical staff is now seeing patients for both emergency and elective procedures, and we are maintaining strict safety and hygiene protocols.
Extensive cleaning process– Even before the pandemic, our dental offices were required to maintain strict hygiene practices set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We’ve developed a rigorous cleaning process to kill viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens on dental instruments and in the office setting. Exam rooms and procedure areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each patient visit.
Good hand hygiene – Help protect yourself and your family against illness by using hand sanitizer upon entering the building. Patients should also wash their hands for 15 to 20 seconds when entering an examination room.
Everyone must maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other unless they are giving or receiving direct patient care. This policy is supported with:
- Modified seating plans in waiting areas and common spaces.
- After completing check in at the front desk, patients may be asked to wait in their vehicles for their appointments. This limits the number of people in the waiting area at one time.
- The placement of signs in waiting areas to indicate appropriate spacing.
- Offices will schedule patient visits at reduced capacity to avoid overcrowding and allow extra time for enhanced cleaning between each patient encounter.
Wearing a mask or face shield is required in the state of Illinois, so our Illinois patients should wear a mask when visiting our office. For states where masks are not required by state officials, we highly recommend that all patients and visitors wear masks to our dental offices as a courtesy to our staff and others in the building. We are unable to provide our surgical masks to patients, so we ask that you bring your own. We also encourage you to bring protective eyewear (glasses or sunglasses) to wear during the procedure.
We encourage patients to come alone to their dental appointments. In the cases where this may have negative health impacts for the patient, some exceptions may be made.
Exceptions include:
- Pediatric patients – If under the age of 18, patient is limited to one companion 18 or older.
- Patients requiring transportation home – The companion may be asked to wait in their vehicle, depending on the office size and capacity.
- Patients with disabilities – are limited to one companion that is 18 or older.
All patients and visitors will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 or flu, including a temperature check. Visitors indicating or showing signs of illness during this screening process will not be allowed to accompany the patient in the office.
Depending on the office size, patients and their companions may be asked to wait in their vehicles until the provider is ready to see them. Should you have to wait in your car after completing the front desk check-in, you will receive a call or text as soon as the operatory is ready for you.
We are now offering FREE virtual dental consultations to our patients!
Virtual consultations provide a safe, easy and fast method for getting started with the dental care you need.
- Use the virtual consultation to get a second opinion.
- Benefit from the flexibility of receiving a professional dental assessment anytime, anywhere.
- Avoid the emergency room for dental pain. Our doctor will tell you what your treatment options are!
No, there is no need to cancel or reschedule your next appointment, unless you are feeling sick. We are doing our part to deliver you the safest level of care. Under the guidance from the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control and prevention, we have your well-being covered.
It is critical that you see a dentist immediately if you are experiencing any type of pain, swelling, bleeding or trauma to the mouth. For dental service needs that require non-emergency procedures, our dentists can see you immediately to recommend the best treatment options and alternatives.
Give us a call at (833) 225-0853 or book online.
- When you call to schedule an appointment, we’ll ask you questions about your health and any symptoms you may be experiencing.
- You will be reminded to wear a face covering or mask to your appointment.
- We will also screen you for COVID symptoms when we call to confirm your appointment and upon arriving at the office. We thank you for your cooperation with our safety protocols.
Familia Dental has always welcomed walk-in patients, and we continue to do so. It is highly recommended, however, that you call ahead of time and book an appointment. This allows our offices to screen all patients for COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms prior to their appointments, and it helps us control the flow of visitors at our office.
We are seeing patients for emergency and elective procedures. It is important that you visit the dentist and maintain your oral health so your condition does not worsen over time. You can call us for more information on the services available at your local Familia Dental office.
Yes, we are currently scheduling new and return patients. Familia Dental is accepting new patients. We realize many dental providers have temporarily closed or are slowly reopening, and this leaves many individuals with limited dental care options. Find a Familia Dental location near you here.