Dear Bates Dental Care Community,

We are happy to announce that we are now open again. Thank you for your patience as we know many of you had appointments postponed during the shutdown.  We’re working hard to re-schedule appointments, but also please feel free to reach out to us to schedule.

Over the last two months, while treating emergencies, Dr. Bates has also been working tirelessly on both the Minnesota Dental Association and Minnesota Board of Dentistry COVID-19 Task Forces to establish guidelines that allow dental practices to safely reopen. As an office we have implemented those protocols, and also used this time to implement several notable changes to maintain our commitment to the health and well-being of patients and our team. 

We have added bipolar ionization air purification throughout our clinic.  This technology, which is widely utilized in hospitals, cleans and disinfects the air by killing and removing viruses, bacteria, mold, spores and fine particulates that might escape more conventional air filtration.

Additionally, we have made some noticeable changes to our office protocols, which means your visit will look and feel quite different. Here’s what you can expect:

• We will be screening patients for COVID-19 risk using questions prior to their appointment.
• Individual appointment times will be scheduled at least 10 minutes apart so that no two patients will check-in at the same time, allowing everyone to socially distance inside the clinic.
• We are limiting additional guests to parents and legal guardians.
• Patients will be asked to call our office upon arrival and wait in their cars until a staff member instructs them to come to the door to greet them, take their temperature with a contactless thermometer and review the screening questions a second time.
• All visitors are required to wear a mask – one will be provided if needed.
• We will be providing a hand sanitization station at our entrance.
•           We have installed a plexi-glass barrier at our front desk for safe communication with our front desk team.

• We will be cleaning our non-clinical spaces using the same rigorous disinfection protocols that our clinical areas receive.
• We have invested heavily in advanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including N95 masks and face shields, to keep patients and staff safe.  We recognize that our new look is a bit different but we promise we are smiling under our masks!
• We have removed refreshments and magazines from our waiting area since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect and have ensured that seating spaces are properly distanced at least six feet apart in case our waiting room needs to be utilized.
• If we expect you to have a balance for your visit, we will attempt to contact you to pay in advance over the phone to minimize contact between patients and staff.

While many things have changed, one thing certainly has not; our commitment to providing you with safe and exceptional dental care. Due to the increased cost associated with the advanced PPE currently required to maintain a safe environment there will be a $12 PPE charge added on to the cost of each appointment.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all navigate this trying time together.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we are taking to keep everyone safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (651) 636-2373 or e-mail us at Contactus@BatesDentalCare.com

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty more than ever and look forward to welcoming you back to our clinic.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bates, Dr. Hannon & the entire Bates Dental Care Team