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RussianCheck back on this post for updates on how CPDO is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. Updates are posted in descending chronological order.
Updated May 1, 2020 at 1:05 p.m. CT.
May 1, 2020
To better inform our patients on the new policies that are dental team is putting into practice, we have published a new page called A New Standard of Clean and Care in Response to COVID-19.
We encourage everyone, whether you’re a patient or a friend of our clinics, to read about our new protocols. Everything that we are doing (and have been doing) is based on one simple principle: to provide quality dental care in the most hygienic environment possible.
The health of our patients and our employees is our top priority.
April 30, 2020
Per Executive Order No. 31 from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, released April 29, 2020, CPDO will resume non-emergency dental care appointments on May 6, 2020. All clinics will still be available for emergency dental visits.
For our patients who were confirmed for appointments up until May 5, we understand that this may be frustrating. Our dental team will be hard at work this week to reach out to all patients who have appointments during this time and get you rescheduled for another date.
If by Monday, May 4 you have not received a call from us, please reach out to your local clinic. Please be sure that you’re able to receive text messages from us and that your voicemail inbox is available.
If you are wearing braces and are concerned about your adjustment appointment, you can refer to our blog post about missing orthodontic appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. We offer some great tips for ensuring your orthodontic treatment goes well despite not seeing your orthodontist for longer than a month.
Please stay tuned to this blog post for more updates and information.
April 9, 2020
Per Executive Order No. 25 from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, CPDO will resume normal operations on May 1, 2020. We are committed to protecting the health of our patients and team members, and will be joining other dental facilities to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Dental emergency appointments will still be available during this time.
If you have an appointment between now and April 30, 2020 and have not received a call to reschedule your appointment, please call your local CPDO clinic to speak to a team member today. You can also dial 615-930-3720 to reach all locations.
Do you need something to help entertain and educate your children while staying at home? Check out our blog post that lists some free educational tools that your family can take advantage of now.
Please stay tuned to this blog post for more updates and information.
March 26, 2020
The Tennessee Department of Human Services just released an announcement yesterday regarding financial assistance for families in Tennessee whose employment statuses were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Aid Available for Certain Families That Lost Employment Due to COVID-19
CPDO feels that this message was important to communicate as many of our patients are children with families. Many of our team members have children as well, and have also been updated with this information about financial assistance from the state.
From the TDHS:
“The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making essential financial resources available to families that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Beginning 10 A.M. CST Thursday, March 26, families can begin applying, online, for up to two months of emergency cash assistance if they were employed as of March 11, 2020 and they’ve lost employment or at least 50% of their earned income as a result of the pandemic.”
The article linked above goes on to clarify precisely who qualifies for this assistance. In short, applicants:
- Must have experienced a 50% or more in reduction of pay due to the COVID-19 emergency
- Include at least one child under the age of 18, or be a pregnant woman
- Must have a monthly gross income not exceed a certain amount (outlined in the above article)
To start the registration process, please read the full article from TDHS and apply as soon as you can.
March 25, 2020
Per Executive Order No. 18 by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Cumberland Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics will remain closed until April 13th, or until further notice, to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
Our dental team is committed to protecting the health of our patients and each other, and we sincerely appreciate the understanding and support through this difficult time.
Patients with appointments during this time will be contacted soon by a CPDO team member for further details and rescheduling. If you have any questions for us, please contact the office at 615-930-3720.
As always, if you’re a patient of record and are experiencing a true dental emergency, our doctors will be available for emergency visits.
If you’d like to stay up-to-date on COVID-19, including its impact on Tennessee, we encourage you to follow the Tennessee Department of Health and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
We encourage you to take the necessary precautions to ensure your family’s safety and health during this global pandemic. Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly following the CDC guidelines, clean frequently touched surfaces, and to stay home if you are sick and experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Please stay tuned to this blog post, social media channels, and emails for more updates.
March 17, 2020
As always, protecting the health of our patients and staff are a top priority.
Per new information and recommendations from the Tennessee Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the CDC and others, Cumberland Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has made the difficult decision close all clinics until April 1, 2020 or until further notice.
All patients who have appointments during this time period will be contacted by phone shortly by a CPDO team member to discuss further details and reschedule your appointment. As always, if a patient of record is experiencing a dental emergency (pain, swelling, bleeding, etc.), we will have a dentist available for emergency exams.
We want to be part of the solution to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, so we appreciate your patience and understanding during this uncertain period. Our phone lines will be open and no doubt will be busy. We will do our very best to contact all patients with upcoming appointments.
Please stay tuned to this blog post, social media channels, and emails for more updates.
March 16, 2020
Your health is always our top priority, and it is no different during the current COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of this memo, there are 52 confirmed coronavirus cases in Tennessee, according to the TN Department of Health.
Our pediatric dental team is at the front lines of oral health, and we understand that many patients with urgent, medical issues cannot wait on care. We are committed to providing quality and timely dental care for our community, while also protecting the health of all patients and team members.
As of March 16, 2020, we are still continuing to provide dental services to all our confirmed patients, with an exception to a handful of appointments today in our White House, TN location. We are implementing new procedures that will take into effect immediately.
New changes to check-in procedure for all locations
Starting this week, all patients will be asked to check into their appointments by calling the clinic and remaining in their cars upon arrival. This is to help reduce the number of people in our waiting areas, per CDC guidelines.
You will receive a text or a phone call asking you to come in to complete paperwork if needed. The clinical staff has also been instructed to take the temperature of all patients before the start of your appointment. If the patient has a fever above 100, then our dental team will help your family reschedule the appointment for a later date when he or she is feeling better.
Once the paperwork and temperature check are done, you will be asked to head back to your car and wait until the dental team is ready for you. You will be notified via text message or phone call.
Here are other new changes going into effect for all CPDO locations:
- Any family members in attendance who do not have an appointment that day will be asked to wait in the car.
- All patients will be asked to wash their hands using medical-grade soap in our treatment areas before and after treatment.
- All books and toys will be removed from the patient waiting areas.
- Increased educational materials posted around the clinic on proper hand-washing techniques.
Because of these changes, we ask all patients to please arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment.
Please check back on this blog post for additional, future updates.
March 13, 2020
As of March 13, 2020, we are still continuing to provide dental services to all our confirmed patients. However, we want to reinforce the importance of staying home when the patient, or even yourself as the responsible party, is feeling ill and experiencing flu-like symptoms.
If you or the patient are sick, please call your CPDO office to reschedule your appointment and stay home.
Such symptoms may include coughing, fever, sore throat, among others. Our team may not see the patient if he or she is sick. We are happy though to reschedule your appointment for a later date after the patient is recovering.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased to 18 for all of Tennessee.
In addition to the previous post regarding what CPDO is doing to ensure the safety of all our patients and team members, here is more information about how we are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Additional training on OSHA standards for all employees.
- Increased ordering of essential items like sanitizers, toilet paper, disinfectants, and more.
- Increased frequencies of cleaning chairs, appliances, doors, lobby iPads, and more.
- Hiring a third-party cleaning service for additional, deep-cleaning of all offices.
- More education presented to patients and employees in the office on proper handwashing procedures.
Please check back on this blog post for additional, future updates.
March 10, 2020
As valued patients of Cumberland Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we appreciate the trust you have in us when bringing your family in for dental treatment.
We care about the well-being of everyone who walks into our clinics, including the employees and doctors. We are taking the time to update you on the situation with COVID-19 (the coronavirus) and the steps we are taking to ensure everyone’s health and safety.
As of March 10, 2020, all confirmed appointments will resume as scheduled, and we do not yet anticipate any abnormal clinic closures.
We are closely monitoring updates from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the Tennessee Department of Health surrounding the novel coronavirus disease. Currently, the infection rate for the virus is very low, according to the CDC, and the virus is not currently widespread in the U.S.
However, we are taking the necessary precautions in order to prevent the spread of this disease, among others. Current OSHA standards apply to the prevention of COVID-19, and CPDO continually enforces compliance with our employees in order to address issues like these. Examples include disinfecting chairs and equipment between each and every patient, wearing gloves, wearing single-use disposable facemasks, and more.
We do ask that if you have an upcoming appointment, and the patient is coughing and feeling sick, to please remain at home. Call your CPDO clinic by dialing 615-930-3720 to have your appointment moved. We are happy to see the patient when he or she is feeling well again.
Recommendations for Disease Prevention
- Avoid large gatherings of people.
- Avoid touching your face and mouth with your hands.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Hand sanitizer is effective, but not as effective as soap and hot water.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then dispose of it in the trash.
- Clean or disinfect regularly touched household items with cleaning spray.
- Do not purchase a facemask unless you are coughing.
We will continue to provide updates on this blog post. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@cumberlandsmiles.com or reach your nearest clinic by calling 615-930-3720.
If you’d like to learn more about COVID-19, please use the links mentioned above, or check out World Health Organization website.