COVID-19: What we are doing to protect our patients

Dear Patient

Coronavirus (COVID-19)
I am writing you today to share with you, our patients, about what we are doing at our clinic in the midst of the COVID-19 global concern. 

With COVID-19 being at the forefront of everyone's thinking, your care and the safety of your loved ones are our main concern as we continue to deliver Emergency dental care services to our community. 

I would like to discuss the preventative measures taken at our clinic:

1. All staff, doctors and patients are screened daily for their recent contacts and asked about any travel.
2. Patients and staff are kindly asked to reschedule appointments if they have a cough, fever or are experiencing breathing difficulties and/or have interacted or live with anyone who has travelled outside of Canada within the past 14 days.
3. Furniture and surfaces are cleaned and sanitized multiple times daily.
4. Diagnostic equipment is sanitized before every use.
5. All instruments and every surface in treatment rooms is sanitized according to hospital standards for each patient. 
6. Proper hand hygiene with use of hand washing, hand sanitizer and/or disposable gloves is our standard of patient care for all doctors and staff.

For the health and well being of our staff and patients in response to COVID-19, please be advised that our clinic will be adhering to the recommended provincial wide shut down as of mid March. 

During this closure we will be available to treat ESSENTIAL/EMERGENCY patients. We are taking all the precautions to ensure the health and safety of all patients and staff during this time. Klara is generally in the office to catch up on paper work and filing pre-estimates for patients when we are ready to come back to work and to answer and questions you may have. She is generally there Monday to Friday from 9-4pm ish. For any emergency call Klara at 905-825-5110 or after hours there will be contact information on the answering machine.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your trust and patience as we continue to work our way through this and meet the challenges together. We are committed to providing a safe, clean clinic for our patients, staff and doctors. We hope to resume work in the near future and i shall keep all of you informed. 

Warmest Regards, 
Dr. V. Bhandari/Klara/Monika/Isabella/Kaitlyn 

Dear Patient,

This is direct information from Johns Hopkins hospital in the United States. This information is from a professor of infectious diseases at John Hopkins University and is meant for Informational Purpose Only. This has been put in simplistic terms:

The virus is not a living organism but a protein (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the eyes, nose, or buccal mucosa (cheek skin), changes their genetic code (mutation) and converts them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays or breaks down on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it rests or lies.

The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam cuts the fat (that is why you have to rub your hands for 20 seconds minimum to create a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.

Heat melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25°C for washing hands, clothes and anything else. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.

Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% will dissolve any fat, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

Any mix with one part bleach and five parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine because peroxide dissolves the virus proteins, but you have to use it pure and it hurts and or can damage your skin.

No bactericide or antibiotic will help. The virus is not a living organisms like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.

Never shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While the virus is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates on its own;

1. a) between 3 hours ( fabric and porous )
2. b) between 4 hours ( copper and wood )
3. c) between 24 hours ( cardboard )
4. d) between 42 hours ( metal )
5. e) between 72 hours ( plastic )

But if you shake clothing or use a feather duster, the virus molecules can float in the air for up to three hours, and can lodge in your nose.

The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as in air conditioners in houses and cars. They also need moisture to stay stable and especially darkness therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.

UV light or any object that may contain it breaks down the virus proteins. For example to disinfect and reuse a face shield mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein ) in the skin.

The virus cannot go through healthy skin. Vinegar is not useful because it does not break down the protein layer of fat. No spirits, nor vodka, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol and you need 65% alcohol for it to be effective.

Listerine if it serves it is 65% alcohol. The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the area, the less you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And of course when using the bathroom.

You have to humidify hands dry from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.

Also keep your nails short so that the virus does not hide there.

This is for information purposes and is not to be taken as "medical advice", refer to your medical doctors for more information.

Warmest Regards,
Dr. V. Bhandari/Klara/Monika/Isabella/Kaitlyn

Dear Patient,

I have some exciting news. We are incorporating Air Purifying/Filtration System in our Dental Practice. The new IQ Health Pro Plus Filter System

Its unlike other air purifiers, IQ Air’s Hyper HEPA filters are proven to stop the smallest, most harmful particles in the air, all the way down to 0.003 Microns-the smallest particles the exist. This includes VIRUSES, PET DANDER, DUST MITES, AIR POLLUTION AND EVEN CIGARETTE SMOKE. IQAIR’s revolutionary Hyper HEPA technology filters particles 100 X smaller than what other air purifiers’ claim.

IQ Air purifiers use only healthy technology-no ozone, no ions, no UV, no chemicals. The result is pure, healthy air without the unhealthy by products that other air cleaners generate.

IQ Air systems are manufactured in Switzerland to exacting standards. Also, IQ Air’s advanced design eliminates air leakage so all the air moving through the system is cleaned. IQ Air is the first and only air purifier to achieve a breakthrough zero ("0") reading using a particulate counter to measure filtered air. That’s why most medical/dental facilities trust IQ Air for medical environments.

I look forward to seeing you at your next scheduled visit.

Warmest Regards,
Dr. V. Bhandari/Klara/Monika/Isabella/Kaitlyn

We at Bhandari Dental are excited to announce the RE-OPENING of our dental office on June 1st post COVID-19 quarantine as per Ministry of Public Health and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. We are all very excited to welcome you back.

The TEAM at Bhandari Dental has been working hard at developing a plan to bring services back in a manner that is safe for you and the staff. Things will look different when you come back to the office and we are working hard at these details, including ensuring we have sufficient supply of PPE and that we schedule our patients in a manner that allows proper social distancing.

At Bhandari Dental, we start our procedures with an Anti-Infective Rinse to remove most of the harmful infective agents in your mouth that have the potential to become dangerous aerosols. Then we use peer reviewed science and equipment to further reduce any risk to our patients and staff.

90% of aerosols can be removed with proper Suction and continuous High Volume Evacuation equipment. We also use additional equipment to further remove most of the remaining aerosols by using the new IQ AIR HEALTH PRO PLUS air filtration system which we have installed to ensure the highest level of air purity in addition to the hospital grade sterilization practices already present in our office.

At Bhandari Dental, our IQ Air is manufactured in Switzerland and utilizes Hyper HEPA filters which ensure 99.5% filtration and removal of BACTERIA, POLLEN, PET DANDER, DUST MITES, VIRUSES, etc, up to 0.003 microns in size.
Some changes you may see at your next appointment:

a) Some screening questions before and during arrival at your appointment

b) Touch less temperature reading

c) We will be in PPE attire

d) Use of Hand Sanitizer when enter the office

e) No magazines in office

f) Seating will be staggered in the waiting/reception area to maintain social distancing

g) Greater time between patients, so as to reduce waiting time for you, less contact etc

i)  Routine Sanitization of waiting/reception room furniture, counter tops, door handles etc

The team at Bhandari Dental look forward to your next visit and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you and every patient safe in our practice. To schedule your visit, please call our office at 905-825-5110 or visit our website at www.bhandaris.wpengine.com.

Thank you for being our patient, we value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbours and friends.

Sincerely
Dr V Bhandari, Klara, Kaitlyn, Monika, Isabella