Dr. S. Masoud Saidi, MSc, DMD, DABOI, FAAID
Diplomate American Board of Oral Implantology
Fellow American Academy of Implant Dentistry

May 27, 2020

Dear friends and family of Saidi Dental Group,

We are excited about our re-opening and look forward to welcoming you back. The phase 2 pandemic guidelines for the re-opening of dental offices have certain protocols meant to keep you and your loved ones safe while expanding the dental treatment scope. As a result, the look, feel and procedures at the office will be slightly different from before, which I am sure you are already familiar with.

Our commitment to you is to prioritize your health and safety and that of our team members while providing the same high level of service. As a result, we have implemented higher guidelines than those required by the regulatory authority. These protocols will be evaluated and updated as the BC Public Health Officer and the appropriate authorities notify us of developments related to the pandemic.

Onto more exciting news, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Adam Chong, my classmate from UBC dental school, with 25 years of experience, will join Dr. Jin and our team at Saidi Dental Group. Dr. Adam, as he was affectionately known by one of my young patients some 25 years ago at UBC dental school, brings with him a great deal of dental knowledge, compassion and high ethics. We will also be introducing a new reception and hygiene team members in the coming months to serve you better. I will send you updated information regarding these new team members and know that you will welcome them and make them feel part of your home at SDG, just like you have bestowed your trust and friendship onto us.

The information about procedures will be sent to you at the time of initial contact, and our safety protocols are posted HERE. Please make sure to read and ask us if you have any questions. Remember, our friendly team members are there to assist you every step of the way.
We can’t wait to see all of you soon! Please let us know if you have any questions and contact us to book your appointment.

Dr. Masoud Saidi, Dr. Janet Jin, Dr. Chong and the Team at Saidi Dental Group

Dr. S. Masoud Saidi, MSc., DMD, DABOI, FAAID

Diplomate American Board of Oral Implantology

Fellow American Academy of Implant Dentistry

June 12, 2020

Dear friends and family of Saidi Dental Group,

It has been two weeks since we reopened our office. Our emergency and urgent care patients have been seen and we are now able to serve all of our patients once again. 

It has been an exciting time as old acquaintances are renewed, and we see you back at the office. Due to ongoing reorganization of patient appointment that has taken place since the shutdown, our receptionist has been working around the clock to schedule hygiene appointments as well as those in need of outstanding dental treatment. 

If you wish to see us sooner, please contact our office proactively so that we can schedule your appointment earlier. 

We are excited about our re-opening and look forward to welcoming you back. We have taken many steps to ensure your safety and are confident to serve you. Some of the enhancements are: 

1.     Personalized arrival procedures to guide you from your car directly to treatment rooms to eliminate contacting surfaces.

2.     Reduced daily numbers of patients and visitors at the office.

3.     Sneeze guards or droplet barriers at all reception areas.

4.     Reduced seating areas.

5.     Oral pre-rinse and hand sanitizing by all patients to reduce exposure to germs.

6.     COVID-19 assessments for our patients along with temperature assessments, upon entering our office.

7.     As in the above protocol, we will assess each team member at the beginning of each day for COVID-19 symptoms.

8.     Payment arrangements made in advance to avoid delay and allow contactless exit from the appointment.

9.     Enhanced operator disinfection procedure with the fogging device to access hard to reach places that can be easily missed at the end of every day.

10.   High level of personal protection equipment (PPE).

11.   Longer appointment times for you to prepare and complete all appointment tasks and duties most safely and comprehensively. 

For your reference, I am attaching the initial COVID-19 consent for your review and signature. This form is required for the first visit. As well, when you telephone the office, please provide us with an update on your medical history, medications and any changes to your insurance coverage. This phone call update allows more efficient scheduling of your appointment and provides physical distance during your visit. 

We are excited to see all of you soon! Please let us know if you have any questions and contact us to book your appointment.

Dr. Masoud Saidi, Dr. Janet Jin and the Team at Saidi Dental Group

COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Dental Treatment Consent Form

I ___________________________, knowingly and willingly consent to have dental treatment completed during COVID-19 pandemic by doctor(s), Dental Hygienist(s), CDA(s), Assistant(s) or any staff of Dr. S. Masoud Saidi Inc. Also known as Saidi Dental Group SDG. 

I understand the novel coronavirus causes the disease known as COVID-19 and that it is currently a pandemic. I understand the novel coronavirus virus has a long incubation period during which carriers of the virus may not show symptoms and still be contagious. For this reason, it is recommended to stay home and avoid close contact with other people when at all possible. __________

I understand the federal and provincial governments have asked individuals to maintain social distancing of at least 2 meters (6 feet) and I recognize it is not possible to maintain this distance while receiving dental treatment. __________

I understand that it is possible that oral surgery/dental procedures can create water and/or blood spray, which may be one way that the novel coronavirus can spread. The ultra-fine nature of the spray can linger in the air for minutes to sometimes hours, which can transmit the novel coronavirus. _________

I understand that due to the visits of other patients, the characteristics of the novel coronavirus, and the characteristics of dental procedures, that I have an elevated risk of contracting AND SPREADING the novel coronavirus simply by being in the dental office. _________                                

 I confirm that I am not presenting any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 listed below: 

·      Fever/Temperature > 38C or 100F

·      Shortness of Breath

·      Sneezing or Difficulty Breathing

·      Tiredness/Fatigue

·      Muscle Pain

·      Reduced or Loss of Smell or Taste

·      Cough

·      Runny Nose

·      Nasal Congestion

·      Sore Throat

·      Headache

·      Travelled outside of Canada or in Canada to COVID-19 affected-area within the past 14 days.

·      Have been in contact with a person who travelled outside of Canada or in Canada to COVID-19 affected area within the past 14 days.

·      Have been in contact with a person who exhibits any of the above-listed signs, symptoms or precautions.

·      Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of Coronavirus

Signature of Patient or Guardian _______________________________  Date ______________________

SDG – Saidi Dental Group #201 – 6351 197^th St., Langley BC V2Y 1X8, (604)539-9374, www.SaidiDentalGroup.ca

With the welcomed return to providing our patients with their dental care with our continued focus on the highest level of care and safety, we would like to address the COVID-19 protocols for all our patients coming in for an appointment.

1. To follow the guidelines for yours and our safety, during some of the procedures we will be wearing masks, face shields and gowns when treating you. Rest assured underneath all of that, we are still the same people you have trusted in to provide you with the best care.
2. There will be a lot of hand washing and sanitizing by us and by you.
3. You will attend a longer appointment than previously to accomplish a similar treatment.
4. Washroom breaks may be difficult to accommodate when receiving treatment so we ask you to refrain from drinking fluids prior to your appointment.
5. For your restorative dental appointments (fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, etc.) please bring a garment bag to store your jackets and purse in, so that when you leave, it will be clean.
6. With the new guidelines, we need to keep the front desk and treatment room interactions/discussion to an absolute minimum. Therefore, please inform our reception staff prior to your appointment is scheduled:
   • What concerns you wish to focus on during your appointment (that way an appropriate length of appointment can be scheduled.)
   • Our receptionists will also inform you of the forms they need you to send in order to book your appointment. To reduce the in-person interaction at the front desk and in the treatment rooms, at least 48 hours prior to your appointment, you will need to send us your updated health questioner and your consent form(s).
   • Depending on your financial arrangement and coverages, our receptionists will process all or a portion of your appointment fee ahead of time to reduce the time spent in the reception area.
7. There will be a $200 non-refundable deposit required for all appointments. This fee goes towards your scheduled appointment. However, if you cancel with less than the 48-hour notice, or do not come to your appointment, the fee becomes non-refundable in order to cover a small portion of the staffing and office expenses incurred.
8. There will be a nominal PPE fee to cover a portion of the increase costs during the pandemic. This fee varies from $15 to $30 depending on the type of appointment.
9. Our receptionists will make every effort to schedule you with your preferred doctor and dental hygienist. This at times may not be possible and we ask for your understanding.
10. Your dental restorative appointment will be scheduled with your doctor indicated at the time of scheduling the appointment.
11. Your recare check during the hygiene visit or your emergency examination may be handled by any of our doctors who are available at the time. Currently, it is not possible to assure which of our doctors may see you during this type of appointment. If you have an absolute preference, please let our receptionist know at the time of scheduling your appointment. They will inform you if your preferred hygienist can be assured or whether it's best to delay your visit to Phase 3 of the pandemic.
12. We will make every effort to schedule your hygiene appointment with your dental hygienist. However, this may not be possible under the current circumstances. If you have an absolute preference, please let our receptionist know at the time of scheduling your appointment. They will inform you if your preferred hygienist can be assured or whether it's best to delay your visit to Pase 3 of the pandemic.
13. Your hygienist will only use hand scaling instruments for your appointment. We know some of you prefer ultrasonic instruments for cleaning of your teeth. This is not possible at this time. Also, there will not be any polishing of the teeth at this time. If you have a different preference, please advise our receptionists at the time of scheduling your appointment to delay your visit to Phase 3 of the pandemic.
14. On the day of your appointment, you will be asked to complete the COVID-19 assessment prior to your arrival to assure everyone's continued health.
15. We ask you to arrive just prior to your appointment and wait in your car for our receptionists to call your mobile phone to come to the office. You may wish to utilize the public pay parking across the street for this purpose.
16. We ask that you come to the office by yourself. If you need assistance with mobility or otherwise, your companion will have to respond to the COVID-19 assessment and screening as well. Your companion will be asked to wait outside the building after assisting your arrival and will be called at the end of your appointment when ready to go home.
17. The door will be locked so please knock if that is the case.
18. When you arrive in the office, your temperature will be taken and your COVID-19 assessment reply will be recorded.
19. Once you have been checked in for your appointment, a staff member will guide you to your treatment room.
20. In the treatment room, we will ask you to rinse your mouth and wash or sanitize your hands prior and after your treatment or other necessary instances.
21. We will complete as much of your outstanding treatment during your appointment as possible to reduce the number of visits and therefore the risk to you. We may not be able to discuss necessary changes to the scheduled treatment during the appointment.
22. Rubber dams and suctions are two ways of reducing splatter and aerosol. For all dental restorative appointments, we will use these tools as much as possible. If you have difficulty tolerating these or keeping open for treatment, please advise our receptionist at the time of scheduling your appointment to delay your visit to Phase 34 of the pandemic.
23. Our friendly and helpful staff and doctors will be there to assist you through every step. We will guide you and simplify all these protocols with a smile and a helping hand so that you do not have to worry about every little detail and at the end of the day, all we care about is your health and safety.

So having read all these rules and steps, if you can't remember it all,

PLEASE FOLLOW ONE SIMPLE STEP

Phone our friendly staff at (604)539-9374, to schedule an appointment.

We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome you back! Our office has always utilized personal protective equipment (PPE) that has exceeded all the CDC guidelines, however, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have instituted additional guidelines and protocols to ensure your safety.

You will see many changes, as we have new ways of scheduling your appointments and managing your insurance and financial transactions. First, you will be contacted 48 - 72 hours prior to your appointment via phone, text or email and asked a set of health-related questions. It is required that we complete this questionnaire prior to your appointment. We will have to reschedule your appointment if we are unable to complete this step. Below is a list of some of the enhanced precautions we have taken to protect you in addition to extensive team training on infection control and patient management procedures.

1. Personalized arrival procedures to guide you from your car directly to treatment rooms to eliminate contacting surfaces.
2. Installed sneeze guards or droplet barriers at all reception areas.
3. Introduce an oral pre-rinse by all patients to reduce exposure to germs.
4. We are providing COVID-19 assessments for our patients along with temperature assessments, upon entering our office.
5. As in the above protocol, we will assess each team member at the beginning of each day for COVID-19 symptoms.
6. Payment arrangements in advance to avoid delay and allow contactless exit from the appointment.
7. Enhanced operator disinfection procedure with the fogging device to access hard to reach places that can be easily missed at the end of every day.
8. High level of personal protection equipment (PPE).
9. Longer appointment times for you to prepare and complete all appointment tasks and duties most safely and comprehensively.
10. Providing teledentistry services for follow up lab reports or communication that can be done online or through video education.

May 21, 2020

Dear friends and family of Saidi Dental Group,

With spring and the renewal all around us, the re-opening of our communities and businesses has started and at SDG, we look forward to a sure-footed and safe return in providing health care to you.

I would like to share with you the great pride the professionals at SDG feel in terms of our infection prevention protocols prior to Pandemic and now. In speaking to colleagues who read and research as many papers and guidelines on COVID as we do, I offer the simple observation that not one COVID positive patient or provider has been traced back to a dental clinic in Canada. I am confident that this virus existed before shut down of March 16th as far back as January or even November of 2019. This observational fact highlights the effectiveness of pre-existing infection control procedures in Canadian dental offices.

We have not taken this great track record for granted and are aiming above and beyond the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the Work Safe BC guidelines in establishing our own higher-level guidelines at SDG. We have always had a state-of-the-art infection control centre and are enhancing our SDG guidelines even further.  

During conducting an N95 fit checker training course for a few doctors at our office, we used the “quantitative air sampling test machine Portacount 8038”. With 6 - 7 people in the room the machine could not find traceable suspended particles in the air for testing purposes and we had to use a particle generator to bring up the reading to a measurable level. Despite this great air turnover, we are conducting a review of our HVAC system airflow and implementing all possible enhancements. For your safety and ours, we are also implementing enhanced PPE, patient hygiene protocols and higher-level sanitation of communal spaces using foggers and other innovative methods. We are diligently planning and implementing our enhancements for yours and our staff safety.

From June 01, we will start seeing our emergency and urgent care patients in severity and chronological order to find out what is needed and will in turn schedule the treatment appointments. From June 08, we will start with our hygiene and recare program for all of you. We know many are long overdue for routine care and look forward to seeing you. 

We will update you prior to June 01 regarding the new physical distancing protocols that will be implemented at our office and the building housing us. We miss you and look forward to seeing you all in the next little while. 

Dr. Masoud Saidi, Dr. Janet Jin and the Team at Saidi Dental Group

April 20, 2020

Dear Friends and Family of Saidi Dental Group,

Hope that you are all very well and enjoying some of the beautiful sunshine we have had. Just a brief reading material to let you know you are in our thoughts. Some of you have reached out to us with dental concerns. As always, we will do our best to assist you during this difficult time and look forward to seeing you at the office as soon as we are back. Meanwhile please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns. On Thursday, we had a Zoom social with colleagues at the SDG. Everyone is doing well except for missing you and each other. Also, regretfully, there is one sad broken finger (a casualty of a home improvement project) which we let you figure out who’s it is when are all back at the office.

Below I am going to present the text from a useful pamphlet from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). As many of you know, I am a Fellow of the AAID and was supposed to be in Chicago this past week as an examiner for Associate Fellow and Fellow level credential candidate doctors. Needless to say, these examinations have been delayed and I am at home. However, I have and will continue to conduct Zoom meetings with the groups of doctors who I mentor at our surgical study club to review and discuss their cases. I am also still staying involved with the RCMSAR Search and Rescue. Also, Dr. Jin and I both have been taking many online education courses ourselves to stay ahead.

I hope you find the information from AAID which I have modified for your review useful:

As you stay home and help curb the spread of COVID-19, you are adjusting to new life routines. On a long list of changes, one is avoiding non-urgent doctor visits — and that includes your dentist. While oral hygiene may not be on top of your mind right now, a healthy immune system is critical during a pandemic and your mouth is a gateway for viruses and bacteria to enter your body. Keeping your mouth in tip-top shape frees your immune system to fight off other sicknesses as needed. To ensure you maintain a healthy smile while you stay home, the AAID has put together The Ultimate Guide to Dental Care During COVID- 19 which I have modified so you can brush up on the basics and learn some additional precautions to take during this pandemic:

1. Properly clean your teeth, tongue, and gums

One of the best ways to keep your mouth in good shape is maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. Following these simple steps can help you maintain a healthy smile and prevent problems:

• Brush your teeth twice a day — when you wake up, before going to sleep or after every meal
• Floss your teeth at least once every day
• Gently brush your tongue to prevent plaque build-up
• Switch to an electric toothbrush if possible
• Gargle with a mouth rinse to kill bacteria and remove plaque, if needing more help or not able to brush immediately.

2. Watch what you eat

Have you ever had a popcorn kernel stuck in your gum? Or hurt your tooth from chewing a hard candy? These would be unfortunate scenarios during the shelter in place, so think twice before eating something that may get easily stuck in your teeth. You should stock up on nutritious foods. Your teeth especially benefit from leafy greens as they are rich in fibre and vitamins and items that are high in calcium and protein such as low-sugar yoghurt. Try to limit your consumption of sweets and acidic beverages as they can cause tooth decay.

3. Stay hydrated

Good hydration is an essential part of oral health. Drink plenty of water to help strengthen your enamel. It helps rinse away harmful bacteria and acid and may ease dry mouth, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Stay away from repeated or prolonged consumption of drinks with carbohydrates (milk, cream, sugar, milk powder, juices, sodas, etc.).

4. Resist bad stress habits

Everyone manages stress in different ways and certain coping mechanisms like smoking or drinking alcohol excessively can be harmful. Smoking increases your risk for gum infections, and drinking alcohol dries out cheeks and gums. Additionally, chewing pen caps or fingernails can cause teeth to chip or break. Be extra thoughtful about how you choose to relieve stress to avoid a potential emergency.

5. Freshen your toothbrush

Toothbrushes can potentially harbour bacteria and viruses. Before and after use, rinse the bristles under warm water and let it dry standing upright without touching the heads of other toothbrushes. If you are concerned about the cleanliness of your toothbrush or if you have just been sick, you can disinfect it by soaking it in 1% hydrogen peroxide (1 part store-bought 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water) for 30 seconds or you can replace it.

6. Keep over-the-counter pain relievers on hand
In case a toothache or swollen gums develop, it’s always a good idea to be prepared with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen to temporarily ease symptoms while you wait to hear from your dentist.

7. Text or call us
If you do experience a dental problem or emergency, Call us at Saidi Dental Group. We will make every effort to help you.

Keeping your mouth healthy is incredibly important — and there’s an additional level of care to follow if you’re a candidate for dental implants or routine dental care,

Very soon, once we resume our normal activities, we look forward to assisting with your needed dental care. To expedite, we will look at the entire picture of your health to ensure the dental implant procedure or your general dentistry will be a success. Here are 5 good habits to build right now:

1. Brush your teeth twice daily for a full two minutes each time.
2. Floss at least once a day. If there is enough space between your teeth, an interdental brush is recommended.
3. Soft-picks can also be used when the space between the teeth is smaller but it does not replace flossing.
4. Switch to an electric toothbrush if possible.
5. Use antibacterial mouthwash for more assistance if needed. This helps prevent bacteria from growing and reduce any inflammatory reaction in the mouth.
6. Commit to stop smoking or chewing tobacco to prepare for the procedure.

We miss you and hope for your best health and happiness. Take care.

Dr. Masoud Saidi, Dr. Janet Jin and the Team at Saidi Dental Group