COVID-19 Update

LATEST Update: May 2, 2022

It has now been two years since we initially re-opened following the brief mandated shutdown of all dental practices in April 2020, and we are thankful that we have had no further work interruption during this period, in part due to the tremendous cooperation between our patients and our staff in working together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during dental procedures. In accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, we have updated our COVID-19 policies as follows:

  • The COVID-19 health screening form is no longer required. You may still be asked a few questions upon arrival, as applicable for current Austin-community conditions, but it will no longer be a requirement to complete the screening form.

  • Temperature checks will no longer be performed upon arrival.

Our practice has always held ourselves to extremely high standards of infection control. We will continue to implement all of our internal health, infection control and safety procedures to minimize the exposure and transmission of COVID-19. We will also continue to monitor both regulatory status and local health conditions and adjust these policies as appropriate.

Before Your Visit

  1. We sincerely ask that during the days prior to your appointment you limit any high-risk interaction with others and practice social distancing and use of a mask when appropriate. Symptom-less transmission is still a serious problem with this virus, so we need to take every possible precaution to avoid further interruptions in our ability to serve you.

  2. If you experience any change in status prior to your appointment, including any new symptoms, or any contact with those infected or considered at high risk, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can discuss options.


During Your Visit

Our new Isolite dental isolation units help reduce aerosols at the source

Our new Isolite dental isolation units help reduce aerosols at the source

  1. We are creating social distancing between patients by staggering appointment times, with special times allocated to serve higher-risk patients. In some cases we may be extending working hours to accommodate this spacing, but we appreciate your patience in working with us on scheduling as we adjust to these new circumstances.

  2. We ask that you arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of your appointment time to ensure that we can stay on schedule with our reduced schedule capacity, but to stay in the safety of your vehicle until your appointment time. We will be using a notification system (via text messages) to contact you once we are ready to see you, which will also help minimize contact among patients in the reception area. We also ask that you not bring family members or friends with you to the office, unless required by circumstances.

  3. When you are called up to the office, you will be greeted by a member of our staff at the door, and any currently applicable screening will take place.

  4. We have made significant investment in equipment to help further minimize the risk of infection by patients or staff. Things will look a bit different! We have added medical grade air purification systems in all dental operatories, and have installed high-evacuation and isolation equipment to minimize aerosols during certain procedures.

  5. In accordance with new regulations that apply to all registered dental hygienists in the state of Texas, some temporary changes in hygiene procedures (“teeth cleanings”) will be followed, when appropriate, in order to reduce aerosols.

  6. Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, face shields and gowns may be used by Dr. Phillip and all our dental care providers and staff as appropriate for current COVID-19 conditions in the community.

  7. “Touchless” check-in and check-out procedures will be used wherever possible (and “minimal touch” in all cases). We also have hand sanitizer available for patient use during your visit.


After Your Visit

  1. If you experience any symptoms, suspect you may be ill, or test positive for COVID-19 during the 7-day period following your visit, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can take appropriate precautions. Such information is treated as confidential, and will not be shared with others.

Thank you for your cooperation with these changes, and we are optimistic that, working together with our patients, we can keep our office a safe workplace for patients, care providers and our staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us or ask during your visit.

We look forward to seeing and serving you again very soon!