×

Dental clinics set to reopen Monday

NEW ULM — Following orders from Gov. Walz, on Monday, May 11 dental clinics in Minnesota will reopen for non-emergency dental procedures.

The order allows dental clinics to reopen after creating an ongoing COVID-19 response; establishing criteria for which procedures should proceed; and providing a safe environment for facility staff, patients, and visitors.

“Infection control has always been a top priority for Minnesota dentists. Following guidelines from the Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Board of Dentistry is not a new practice for the profession,” Executive Director of the Minnesota Dental Association Carmelo Cinqueonce said. “Patients can expect to see increased safety precautions at clinics that address needs to incorporate additional social distancing and virus mitigation measures. Decisions to resume seeing patients beyond emergency care are being made on a clinic-by-clinic basis; patients should feel comfortable in reaching out to their dental provider to find out what they can expect at their next visit.”

In New Ulm, some dental offices plan to reopen on a limited basis and will follow all recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), Center for Disease Control (CDD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Dental Health Clinic and Woodview Dental Clinic are confirmed to reopen Monday for all types of procedures.

Both clinics are prioritizing patients who had scheduled appointments before COVID-19 the shutdown. Deferred and outstanding procedures will be among the first patients next week.

Dental Health Clinic is calling up those with deferred appointments first to reschedule. The only limitation at Dental Health Clinic will have is on the number of patients seen each day.

Before COVID-19, staff would sanitize each room between each patient visit, but now the cleaning process has intensified. There will be a half hour gap time between each patient visit to ensure the patient room is disinfected. Dental Health Clinic will also control access to the building. The front door will be locked. Patients with appointments must call when they arrive to be let in the building.

Woodview Dental Clinic Office Manager Kayla Weinkauf said patients will be asked to wait outside the office in their vehicle rather than in the lobby. Patients will be called in the office one at a time and each patient will have their temperature taken.

Weinkauf said the dental office will work at a slower pace, but this is to ensure Woodview exceeds standards for infection control.

The slow start also helps to reassure patients it is safe to return to the dentist.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today