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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Resources

May 4, 2020

Apple Tree Dental updates and policy

UPDATE 4/12/23: Beginning Wednesday, April 12th, wearing a face mask will no longer be required for patients and staff in most patient care areas at all Apple Tree Dental Centers.  In line with Apple Tree's commitment to patient care, Apple Tree will continue to encourage high risk, immunocompromised patients to wear a mask while they are at Apple Tree Dental. 

Apple Tree Dental is evolving its policies due to the consistently low rates of hospitalizations, mortality and community transmission levels of COVID-19 observed at most of Apple Tree's Center locations.  COVID-19 cases have decreased significantly since January 2022, along with a significant drop in deaths and hospitalizations nationwide.  

Pations and staff may still choose to wear masks, and Apple Tree will support their decision to do so.

 

Apple Tree is fully open and staffed to schedule dental appointments, including cleanings and exams.  In addition, we are continuing to offer teledentistry appointments for patients to connect directly with their dentist by phone or computer.  A recent research study reported that 86% of patients who experienced teledentistry would use it again, and would recommend it to others.  If you have a dental concern or general care questions, you may schedule a teledentistry appointment to receive an exam via your computer or smart phone.  More information is available when you call for an appointment.

If you have an appointment and you are not feeling well, have any symptoms of COVID-19, or are in direct contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, do NOT come to the clinic for your appointment.  Instead, call your Center to reschedule an appointment to take place after you have ben free of symptoms for at least 14 days.  Apple Tree is committed to keeping patients and staff safe, by implementing updated infection control procedures and practicing physical distancing.  Please note that all patients and visitors are asked to wear masks.

To discuss your dental needs and schedule a teledentistry or an in-person appointment, call the Center nearest you.

Apple Tree's Infection Control Protocols

During this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Apple Tree Dental has updated and implemented new operating procedures, and has installed additional safety measures and equipment in order to protect our patients and staff.

New Infection Control Standards

Patients are asked to remain in their vehicles until our care coordinator notifies them to enter the building for their appointment, which means there are few, or no, people waiting in the lobby area. Patients are required to wear a mask within the Center, unless they are in the middle of a dental procedure.

Our office staff wear masks and are separated from patients and visitors by plexiglass barriers. Our clinical team members look a little different - because they now wear additional Personal Protective Equipment.  We have spaced the patient check-in area to meet physical distancing recommendations. Every surface, pen, clipboard, keyboard, and signature pad is disinfected regularly, and per CDC guidelines our treatment rooms receive a thorough disinfection between each patient.

Air Purification

Apple Tree has implemented new methods to control aerosol droplets within our Centers. We have installed and trained our staff to operate special suctioning equipment within each treatment room. This suctioning equipment removes high volume of droplets and aerosols produced during dental treatment.

We have also installed Ionization HVAC systems that work to safely clean air inside commercial buildings.

Teledentistry, or No-Contact Dentistry

Apple Tree is providing HIPAA-compliant virtual appointments for patients using their smart phone, laptop, or other device.  Learn more about teledentistry.

Dental Assistant in full PPE clinicians using dental suction systems to purify the air

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Resources

Updated 10/27/22:

Current Testing Protocols

MDH Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/

Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Check for vaccine appointments: https://www.vaccines.gov/

Minnesota's COVID-19 Community Vaccination Sites

How to have a conversation with your loved ones about the vaccine: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/conversations/

Overview of COVID-19

Basic Overview of COVID-19 (PDF)

Is it COVID-19? (PDF)

Available in the following languages:

አማርኛ (Amharic) | عربى (Arabic) | 中文 (Chinese) | Français (French) | Hmoob (Hmong) | ကညီကျိ (Karen) | ភាសារខ្មែរ (Khmer) | 한국어 (Korean) | ພາສາລາວ (Lao) | नेपाली भाषा (Nepali) | Afaan Oromoo (Oromo) | پښتو ژبه (Pashto) | русский (Russian) | Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish) | ᜏᜒᜃᜅ᜔ ᜆᜄᜎᜓᜄ᜔ (Tagalog) | Українська (Ukrainian) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Healthcare and Health Insurance

Resources to Find Low-Cost Health Care or Get Health Insurance (PDF)

Available in the following languages:

አማርኛ (Amharic) | عربى (Arabic) | 中文 (Chinese) | Français (French) | Hmoob (Hmong) | ကညီကျိ (Karen) | ភាសារខ្មែរ (Khmer) | 한국어 (Korean) | ພາສາລາວ (Lao) | नेपाली भाषा (Nepali) | Afaan Oromoo (Oromo) | پښتو ژبه (Pashto) | русский (Russian) | Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish) | ᜏᜒᜃᜅ᜔ ᜆᜄᜎᜓᜄ᜔ (Tagalog) | Українська (Ukrainian) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Public Service Announcement (PSA) Videos

The video below is in American Sign Language (ASL):

Other videos, including videos in other languages, are available at the MDH website.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources

Mental Health Resources

Bounce Back Project

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Resources for Adults who are Furloughed, Laid Off, or Experiencing a Gap in Work

Federal Benefits

https://www.benefits.gov/help/faq/Coronavirus-resources

Department of Labor (DOL)

https://www.dol.gov/

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

https://www.onlineparentsupport.org/ Personal Protective Equipment Video for Children:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNinywG7BtY
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