Dr. Louis F. DeSantis

This is something that we have also been seeing since the pandemic began... CBS News (12/7) says dentists throughout the country are seeing a more than 50% increase in teeth grinding and clenching in their patients that is likely due to multiple stressors, including the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, there is anecdotal evidence of tooth loss in some COVID-19 survivors. Manhattan-based periodontist Dr. Scott Froum discussed how the coronavirus and stress from pandemic may be affecting oral health. Similarly, KRIV-TV Houston (12/4, Hayes) reported that survivors of COVID-19 are reporting tooth loss and other dental issues among a long list of bewildering symptoms linked to the novel coronavirus.

From our "hometown paper" The Staten Island Advance

To our dear patients, thank you for your understanding as dental offices were closed during the pandemic, tomorrow morning June 1, 2020 we have been cleared by the Governor to continue care. please call after 9am 718-980-9769 to schedule your next appointment Dear Dr.DeSantis , Senator Lanza asked me to reach out to you with an update. He has been working diligently with the Governor since my last email to you. We are pleased to inform you that the Governor has announced ...today that dentists across New York can open tomorrow! Please click the following link for more information: https://www.governor.ny.gov//governor-cuomo-announces-dent Senator Lanza remains grateful to our dentists and all you continue to do to care for your patients. Wishing you and your family good health, Bill Matarazzo Chief of Operations Senator Andrew Lanza New York State Senate, 24th District Phone: 718-984-4073 Fax: 718-984-4455 www.lanza.nysenate.gov

To our dear patients: We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processe...Continue reading

To our dear patients: Covid19 and the Pandemic of 2020 can be described as a failure of imagination. No one could have conceived of this and worldwide we were caught with our guard down. Moving forward Government leaders will hopefully create a playbook designed to prevent and manage future health crises What we will be doing in our office:... Baring any further delay from the Governors office our practice is gearing up to move from the emergency care we have been providing to continued and routine dental care on May 15, 2020 What that means and what you can expect: Protecting you while providing the exceptional care you have come to expect is the goal. Some protocols have changed but everything is being to protect all of us. What changes can you expect to see: The reception area will be closed with the exception of the next person in Queue. Everyone will be expected to wait in their car or outside the building until phoned to enter the office. You must enter the building wearing a mask and gloves, that mask will be removed only at the direction of the Doctor or staff in the operatory Your temperature will be taken with a scanner prior to entering the treatment area, patients scanning with fever will be not be seen and referred to their primary care physician for follow up Upon entering the treatment area, everyone will be directed to rinse with a mix of hydrogen peroxide before procedures begin The use of aerosol producing equipment will be kept to an absolute minimum, you will notice hygiene visits being performed by hand and your visit time extended. Procedures that require the use of highspeed aerosol producing drills will be limited to the last appointment of the day. This will be the norm until high powered evacuation systems that include both HEPA filtration and UV sterilization are delivered and come online in June. We will be doing everything we can, including implementing recommendations that are being written on a daily basis. You all remain dear to us. We welcome you home and will do everything we can to protect all of us. Stay safe, Dr. DeSantis

To my Dear Patients, As we gear up within the next few weeks to reopen our Practices, I have written Protocol that I have shared with Prosthodontists in the Northeastern US. Let me share with you some of my thoughts, that we are implementing: Separate patients in your reception area by at least 6 feet, as difficult as this may seem If anyone can figure out how to make that work Prosthodontists can!... Record the temperature of yourself, staff and every patient that enters your office and record it, along with questioning if anyone in their household/place of employment has been ill. Hand sanitizer dispensed to patients before they enter the operatory space. Remove all reading material from the waiting room. Hydrogen Peroxide rinses for 30 seconds as it may reduce viral counts PPP to include masks, gloves, face shields, gowns and hair covering High pressure HEPA/UV filtration extraoral suction units. This may become the main tool we have to reduce the risk from aerosol dispersion (on a personal note I ordered two). It is very possible that this will be the 2020 version of Dentists learning to use gloves and masks in the 1980’s We will do everything in our power to keep us all safe, in the interim I am available for phone/video consultation and as per the rules of NY State during the Pandemic, I will see you by appointment to treat an emergency if needed My dear patients, stay safe, by being apart now we will all be back together soon. Dr. DeSantis

To my dear patients, This past Sunday, Governor Cuomo has effectively stopped routine dental care with the exception of emergencies. During the remainder of this crisis we have put the following safeguards in place to further assure your safety and ours: Dental emergencies will be seen by appointment only after phone consultation with me (917-273-7802)... If you require emergency care and you are scheduled to come in for emergency treatment, we will ask you to call the office (718)980-9769 on arrival and to wait in your car in our parking lot until we phone you to come in. This will allow the treatment room to be sanitized if there was an emergency scheduled before your arrival. Our reception area is shut down and you will be immediately escorted to a treatment room and given hand sanitizer. If you require an attendant or are in a wheelchair, we will ask that the attendant remain outside and I will come and get you myself and return you to your driver. Stay strong and safe everyone, Dr. Louis F. DeSantis