Dear Patients and Friends,

We hope this message finds you and your family healthy and well during these continually challenging times. We can’t believe it’s been close to 10 months since the first shelter-in-place order was placed in our county in March. Learning to navigate life in the presence of COVID-19 was initially challenging and, with this in mind, we have made changes to keep our staff and most importantly you safe. Luckily, the vast majority of our pre-COVID infection control measures went well beyond what was necessary to control the spread of this disease in our office and we have made significant adjustments to areas where improvement was needed. We have adjusted our daily protocols, adding new online portals for digital forms, new screening processes, additional PPE for our team, and added additional safeguards to eliminate patient-to-patient contact. Though there has been a difficulty, our daily interactions with our patients and the stories you have shared about how you all are managing things have given us encouragement and peace of mind that many of you practice your own safety precautions and are staying healthy. Thank you for the grace you have given us to adjust in these new times. We are so honored to be able to continue to be an essential part of your healthcare during this pandemic and thank you for continuing to trust us to keep you all healthy and safe.

Since our reopening in June, Lifetime Dental has been catching up on many missed appointments, as well as many new emergency problems patients have been experiencing due to anxiety, stress, lack of routine dental care, and pain. We are honored to continue to be of service to you and your dental needs. A healthy mouth is a great indicator of a healthy body, and we want to make sure your immune system isn’t having to work overtime in fighting oral diseases when it should be allocated to keeping your body healthy. A healthy immune system and proper safety are one of the best defenses against disease.

As we approach the end of this year, our schedule is beginning to fill quickly. We want to make sure we are able to see all of our patients that need to be seen and cared for. Many folks consider their dental benefits plans and hope to utilize their coverage for the remainder of the year as well. Please consider scheduling your appointments early so we may be able to care for you.

In continued uncertain times like these, family, friends, and community are what gives us peace, keep us positive and move us forward for a brighter future. Hoping you all are finding some peace as well.

Wishing you all health and safety,

The Lifetime Dental Team

Health & Safety Protocols

Here at Lifetime Dental, we maintain the highest standards of sterilization and infection control. Dr. Roberta Ekman, Dr. Paul Dusek, and our team are committed to ensuring that our office is a safe and healthy environment for you and to providing you with the quality care you need to maintain good oral and overall health. To learn more and schedule an appointment with our dentists in Grafton or Park River, North Dakota, please contact our office today.

At our office, we follow the extensive infection control recommendations outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, we go above and beyond many of these requirements because we are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our patients, as well as that of our team.

These infection control and safety measures include:

• Eye protection for patients and team members

• Disinfectant hand soap

• Gloves and face masks

• Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces

• Sterilization of all equipment before every use

In addition, our team of professionals sterilizes all reusable equipment after each use, including handpieces. We use an autoclave, which is a device that kills bacteria and viruses by steam, heat, and pressure. When possible, we use disposable materials and tools to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination through reuse.

Your health and comfort are our top priorities, and you can rest assured that we take all of the necessary steps to protect you and your family while you are with us. We welcome you to contact our office today to learn more about infection control and safety or schedule your next visit with our dentists. We look forward to caring for you!