Our Blog

Welcome to another week of social distancing! As we move into this new week, there's been lots of talks about re-openings across the country. We, too, are looking ahead to what our new normal will look like at Stefano Dental.

When and how that happens is still not definitive, but we're starting to picture and plan best practices to provide the safest and highest level of care for our patients.

We'll be using a different way to schedule patients, a different way to filter patients through the waiting room, and using different protective gear for patients staff.

Things might look and feel differently for a while. What will be the same, is the same excellent dental care and the same smiling staff, albeit behind masks.

They say you can smile with your eyes, be sure to see our smiles behind the masks.

Although we're not sure of when we're opening yet, we're starting to plan re-opening in phases. We're looking at best practices provided by the Center for Disease Control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as the Ohio Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

Please be patient with our staffing and procedure restrictions as we continue to prepare for the best and most safe practices during this transitional time.

Some extra precautions might be seem cumbersome and time-consuming, but please know we put SAFETY first for our staff and our patients.

We're all navigating new territory, so please know we're preparing for EXTRA-ordinary circumstances with EXTRA-ordinary precautions to continue to give EXTRA-ordinary dental care.

Another Monday under COVID restrictions! It's time to check in with ourselves. Let's go, let's move! What are some ways you’re moving about this week? Exercise is part of our mental, emotional and physical well-being! Keep on moving, keep on growing, keep on going.

As we continue to maintain social distancing and adhere to stay at home orders, there are many ways we can still maintain self-care. Check in with yourself throughout the day. How are you feeling? Do you need to have quiet time or do you need to reach out to someone, or do you just need to breathe?

Stretching can be great way to release physical tension in our bodies, but it’s also been known to help with mental and emotional tension as well. Find what works for you.

Don’t forget to continue your oral self-care too. Brush twice a day, floss once a day, use your tongue cleaner. Rinse with water after a meal, it can help cleanse food particles from your mouth.

As we continue to practice stay at home orders, we're working diligently at looking at our dental best practices as we resume working, after COVID restrictions. What will that look like? Please know, we'll be taking extra precautions above and beyond are standard hygiene practice for our protection and for our patients. As we know more about COVID, the more we'll know about how best to protect and treat our patients too.

Also, remember you can access and log into your account with Stefano Dental via our website to look at statements, make payments, and review your treatment.

Safety first. We’ll be back together soon!

Virtual. The new world during COVID. We’re finding a lot of opportunities for virtual time to talk to our staff and our loved ones these days.

We’re thankful for ZOOM and all the video outlets who’ve enabled us to share our thoughts and ideas with each other and still SEE each other.

How are you connecting with your loved ones and teammates these days?

The video capability to be able to see large groups together as been such a joy these days of COVID restrictions.

Our team, though at home and not working, have found ways to connect and have team meetings with virtual meeting methods like Zoom.

We love how Stefano Dental can not only keep us connected with our teammates for work, but we also get to connect with our team on how we’re doing with the COVID-restrictions.

All of us are juggling some different aspect of the COVID-restrictions. Do we have kids at home from school? Are we now working from home? Are we juggling child-care while working from home? We’re we temporarily laid off? Are we concerned about paying bills?

These are the things that we can help each other out with. Sometimes it’s not enough for a call.  Sometimes our facial expressions and body language are what we need the most in times of need.

Make sure to reach out to loved ones when you can. If you can show up on FaceTime or Skype or a Google Meet Up or Zoom, try it out!

Starting another week! Maybe you’ve found some comfort in that new normal by now. Did you find a new schedule or a new way to work?

What are some things you’re enjoying about the social distancing rules? Are you finding time to finish a book, complete a project, or maybe it’s just time to be still and be. Change can be difficult and uncomfortable, but it can also be a time to renew, re-energize and refocus.

Find celebrations in the small things. Maybe realizing the small things are actually big things. Find some time for some fresh air, whether it be on the porch, patio or backyard. We're all discussing masks. While social distancing, don't forget to do some exercise. If not you're able to social distance, then don a mask while running, walking, biking.

Find time to reset yourself. Although we're all connected via technology, make sure to make time to unplug from the computer, phones and social media. Find time to connect with yourself and your inner voice. If meditation is something you're considering, there are many apps that can help you get started with meditative guidance.

Don't forget to reach out to loved ones, via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime. Or just pick up the phone to say you miss someone, or check in by phone to see how people are doing!

Stefano Dental is still open for dental emergencies as outlined by the American Dental Association, please go to www.ada.org.

Please practice patience, social distancing, good hygiene and kindness during this time.

We look forward to making smiles again!

Dr. Lata and staff