Columbia Dental Solutions

Diver Gets Weekly Teeth Cleanings From The Same Friendly Little Shrimp

No instruments required! 😂

Diver Gets Weekly Teeth Cleanings From The Same Friendly Little Shrimp She's more than happy to help.

Due to inclement weather- icy road conditions/ freezing temperatures- our office will be closed today. We will have regular office hours tomorrow. Be Safe!

Wishing you safe, healthy, and happy holidays. Merry Christmas!!

Dear Patients,

As you know, the CDC and Governor Hogan recently eased or lifted mask mandates in certain indoor and outdoor environments. Please be aware that the lifting of mask mandates does not include dental offices. In order to protect all our patients, especially those that have not been vaccinated, we kindly ask that you still wear a mask when visiting our office. We sincerely thank you for cooperating with this request as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 infections. Like all of you, we also want to reach a point where we can safely remove our masks when not directly engaged in patient treatment. Until then, we will continue to take all necessary precautions and beyond.

The Team at Columbia Dental Solutions, LLC

Study Suggests Saliva Is Not the Culprit in Transmitting SARS-CoV-2 Via Dental Aerosols - Decisions in Dentistry

Good news as we all try to get back to normal! Likely more studies needed to confim!

Study Suggests Saliva Is Not the Culprit in Transmitting SARS-CoV-2 Via Dental Aerosols - Decisions in Dentistry Researchers from The Ohio State University (OSU) School of Dentistry took a close look at the origin of bacteria and viruses in dental aerosols in their article, “Sources of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Microorganisms in Dental Aerosols.”

Happy Mother’s Day!

Merry Christmas!
Wishing Everyone Happy and Safe Holidays!

My niece. Excellent pediatric dentist. Opening in Urbana soon. Give her office a call!

⭐️ OPENING JANUARY 2021! ⭐️

Meet the creator of Urbana Pediatric Dentistry: Dr. Dina Chehab ✌🏼♥️🦷

As a Pediatric Dental Specialist & Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Dina is an advocate for children who commits herself to delivering exceptional dental care for all infants, toddlers, children and adolescents — including those with special health care needs and complex medical histories.

She believes setting the stage of oral and overall health begins at birth, and focuses her practice on prevention, wellness, and growth & development.

Since she began her training, Dr. Dina has had a special interest in treating children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and has created an adapted dental environment to make the dental setting more sensory-friendly. 🧩

She also has a strong interest and has pursued advanced training in Pediatric Airway & Sleep Medicine, as well as Lip & Tongue Ties — she is passionate about the importance of addressing these restrictions early on in life to ensure that children are thriving from the breastfeeding stage all the way into adulthood. 👅👄😴🤱

Dr. Dina values collaboration with other healthcare professionals and offers a comprehensive approach in her treatment recommendations. She tailors her care and treatment based on your child’s individual needs, and wants to ensure that your child’s dental visit is both comfortable and enjoyable while providing them with the best treatment possible.

👩🏻‍🎓 Academic Training:
▪️Undergraduate: University of Maryland
▪️Dental School: University of Maryland
▪️Pediatric Residency: University of Southern California
▪️Pediatric Residency: Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

Dr. Dina is so looking forward to bringing Pediatric Dentistry to the Urbana/Ijamsville/Clarksburg communities, and is so excited go above and beyond to help her patients thrive!

Information on making appointments with Dr. Dina will be coming soon — she can’t wait to meet you, beginning in January 2021!

✌🏼
♥️
🦷

Our Digital Scanner has arrived and for most cases will eliminate the need for messy traditional impressions!!

Why obesity worsens COVID-19

Good oral hygiene habits can help against obesity, a condition that seems to be linked to more severe COVID-19 cases!

Why obesity worsens COVID-19 > Science's COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation This spring, after days of flulike symptoms and fever, a man arrived at the emergency room at the University of Vermont Medical Center. He was young—in his late 30s—and adored his wife and small ...

Va**ng linked to COVID-19 risk in teens and young adults

“Among young people who were tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, the research found that those who v**ed were five to seven times more likely to be infected than those who did not use e-cigarettes.”

Va**ng linked to COVID-19 risk in teens and young adults Data collected in May shows that teenagers and young adults who v**e face a much higher risk of COVID-19 than their peers who do not v**e, Stanford researchers found.

Greetings Everyone,

We hope you and your families are in good health. We have been working diligently to prepare our office for a safe return based on recommendations and guidelines provided by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and Maryland Health Department. This post will give you new and detailed information regarding changes being made to our operations. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

As for our return date, we will be making appointments for patients with temporary restorations starting on Wednesday, May 27th. All other patients can make appointments starting Monday, June 1st.

The following outlines the changes taking place, so please take the time to review them. We ask that everyone comply with these changes to ensure everyone's safety and avoid delays in both administrative and clinical matters!

-We will pre-screen every patient over the phone on the day we confirm their appointment. We will screen you again when you come, including taking temperature prior to entering the office.

-Please fill out all paperwork online through our online portal prior to date of your appointment. You will be provided with a link. If you are unable to do so, please let us know and we can arrange for an alternative method. Paperwork not completed prior to the appointed time may unfortunately result in appointment cancellation. We really want to avoid this scenario!

-All insurance information must be verified prior to the day of the appointment.

-Please forward x-rays or other records from other offices before the day of the appointment.

-Please wait in you car in the rear parking lot (facing Snowden River Parkway) and give us a call when you arrive

-You must wear a mask and use the entrance station sanitizer prior to entering the office. If you don’t have a mask, we will provide you with one.

-No companions unless absolutely necessary, such as parent, caretaker, translator.

-Please continue to wear the mask after you've been seated. We will tell you when to remove it.

-We will ask you to rinse with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide solution for 30-60 seconds prior to start of procedure or evaluation.

-Please inform our office of any COVID-19 signs or symptoms/ positive diagnosis occurring up to 14 days after your appointment.

-Everyone in the office must practice safe distancing of 6 ft or more, except those directly involved in patient treatment.

-Anyone who is experiencing flu-like illnesses and not requiring emergency dental care, including employees, will be asked to leave the office.

-Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or previously displayed symptoms must be fully recovered before working or being seen at the office.

-Payments and co-pays can also be made through the online portal. We will arrange for payment prior to procedure whenever possible.

-A PPE fee of $10 per patient per visit will be charged. This will help offset cost of extra protective gear we are purchasing and using to keep you safe. We will submit this to your insurance company to see if they cover it.

We understand that these are quite a few changes and we sincerely thank you for your cooperation. We believe these measures are necessary to provide you with the best and safest dental care possible. Any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

A Certain Type of N95 Mask May Do More Harm Than Good

This is important since masks not only protect us, but also others around us.

A Certain Type of N95 Mask May Do More Harm Than Good Experts say certain N95 masks with front valves protect the user but don't prevent that person from spreading COVID-19 to others nearby

Office Update!

To our Dear patients- We hope this post finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While a return date has not yet been set by Governor Hogan, we are actively working to make sure we are ready when he does.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

In addition to the strict infection control measures we already have in place, we are purchasing equipment to help reduce greatly the amounts of aerosols produced during procedures and the number of microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, floating in the air. This includes: 1. A medical grade air purifier with HyerHEPA filter that eliminates fine and ultrafine particles such as bacteria and viruses floating in the air and 2. an Extra Oral suction machine that helps capture aerosols at the source as they exit the patient's mouth thus preventing them from floating in the air for a prolonged period of time. The captured aerosols are then filtered through the machine with yet another HEPA filter for added safety.

Furthermore, you will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you arrive.
• We will likely ask you to remain in your car when you arrive and we will alert you when we are ready for you. We will do our best to run on time.
• We will require that forms are filled online before arriving both to save time and reduce chance of infection transmission. Our portal is accessible from PC computers, tablets, or mobile devices such as your phone.
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. Whenever possible we will limit the treatment room to patient only, unless a parent/guardian/care taker must be in the room as well.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
• You will have to options to make payments through our online portal as well. We may ask for prepayment prior to start of procedure to help facilitate the process.

We look forward to seeing you again 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. If you have any questions please call the office at 443-546-3540 and we will gladly answer them.

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

Happy Easter. We hope everyone is safe and in good health!

COVID-19

Essential vs non-essential dental care during the COVID-19 Pandemic!

COVID-19 To help reduce the spread of coronavirus, we’ve asked dentists to stop doing all but emergency dental procedures.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In case you missed it- “CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.

How long can COVID-19 live on surfaces?

From Johns Hopkins University.

How long can COVID-19 live on surfaces? Carolyn Machamer, a cell biologist who specializes in coronaviruses, discusses the latest research on the virus that causes COVID-19

Coronavirus, Social Distancing and Self Quarantine

Stay Safe!

Coronavirus, Social Distancing and Self Quarantine Now that COVID-19 is spreading among communities in the United States and other countries, phrases such as “social distancing,” “self-quarantine” and “flattening the curve” are showing up in the media. But what do they mean?

Our Dear Patients: Please be advised that we will be open to see emergency patients from 10 am to 1 pm tomorrow, Friday 3/20/2020. Situations that are considered urgent/ emergency situations are those involving swelling or significant pain. If you have a temporary crown or bridge and it becomes loose or breaks please contact us so we can decide best course of action. A friendly reminder during these uncertain times to follow good oral hygiene habits at home. That means brushing for minimum 2-3 minutes using a soft-bristled tooth brush and flossing at least before bed time. Oral rinses such as ones available over the counter is also recommended as an adjunct.

Coronavirus - Maryland Department of Health

To our dear patients,

Your overall health and well being are very important to us. The American Dental Association and the Maryland State Dental Association have recommended that dental offices close (to Non-emergencies) for up to 3 weeks to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Please note, these measures are voluntary for now, but we think they are critical in the effort to help reduce infections. If you have a true dental emergency, such as swelling or significant lingering pain, please reach us at 443-546-3540 and we will do everything we can to help you. Please do not burden Hospital Emergency Rooms with dental concerns as you would risk exposure to possible COVID-19 patients. There are now 57 confirmed cases in Maryland. Below is a link to the Maryland Department of Health Website. We hope you and your families stay safe!

Coronavirus - Maryland Department of Health Visit the Maryland Department of Health's official resource for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

In an effort to help reduce possible infections with COVID-19 and protect patients and staff we have cancelled all routine procedures for this week. We are available for dental emergencies if needed. Stay safe!

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Prevention & Treatment

We are closely monitoring the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. We follow strict infection control protocol at our facility as always to ensure the safety of our patients and staff members. As of now we are open to see patients the usual clinical hours of Monday 8:30 am- 5:30pm, Wednesday 8:30 am- 5:30pm, and Friday 8:30 am- 4:00 pm. Below is helpful information from CDC website on infection prevention!

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Prevention & Treatment The best way to prevent COVID-19 infection is to avoid exposure to this virus and use healthy habits.

Great seeing Jason Nunn, Owner of Catalyst Physical Therapy, for his routine exam and cleaning today.
Healthy teeth and gums are an essential part of our patient’s overall health!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!!

Cousin Eddie “are you ready for some football”

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care....”

It’s not too late!
With the end of the year fast approaching don’t lose out on your second cleaning or remaining benefits. We have a few appointments available before December 31st so give us a call at (443)546-3540.

Brandi and Tera have found the way to my heart .... through my dogs 🐶
Thank you very much for the puppy treats and visiting with us yesterday!

Congratulations Lisa Winters on winning the Fleming’s Bar and Grill gift card door prize from our open house Friday night! It was a pleasure to visit you, Dr. Johnson and your staff yesterday.

We would like to thank our Colleagues and friends for attending our open house in support of our new dental practice. It was a pleasure meeting and getting to know everyone!