2020 is finally almost over and we’re gingerly awaiting 2021, but with a large dose of optimism. Thank you for continuing to trust us with your dental care. We take very seriously the responsibility of keeping you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
We’re happy to report that the majority of our team members and doctors will be getting their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine next week. This past week Dr. Patel received his first shot at FHH. We are grateful to the Maryland Department of Health to have prioritized healthcare workers when distributing the vaccine. We hope that it will be available to all who wish to receive it within the next few months, and that more than 70% of us will make that choice in order to achieve herd immunity. At that point – and only at that point — will it be safe to resume life without PPE and the precautions we’ve all been taking.
On Our Calendar: Open and Closed Dates
We will be closed from Thursday, December 31, 2020 through Sunday, January 3, 2021. If you have an emergency please call us at 301-663-8300, and follow the prompts.
We’ll be open two Saturdays a month going into the 2021. Please call us for our Saturday dates beyond April. These are our open dates:
January 16 and 30
February 13 and 27
March 13 and 27
On Your Calendar: Your Dental Health
Make 2021 a better year by making a better dental health resolution! If you don’t do these things already, please resolve to brush twice a day and to floss once a day. Even if you maintain perfect dental hygiene, don’t skip your dental appointment. If you’re a patient of record, you may request an appointment through our Secure Patient Portal. The URL is https://drhlevyassoc.mydentistlink.com/. Through the portal you can also securely chat with us and upload documents.
Untreated infections in the mouth can lead to dire consequences, so don’t ignore a toothache (read more) , which we consider to be a dental emergency. We’ll do our best to make time to see you even if you don’t have an appointment. Also, there’s a direct relationship between your oral hygiene and the health of your entire body.
If you’ve lost your dental insurance please check out our Dental Health Club (read more). Payment plans are available.
Is it safe to go to the dentist? In one word, YES. Our infection control protocols are even more stringent now than when we reopened to non-emergency patients in June 2020. You can see our protocols here (read more).
Our YouTube Channel: Stages of Tooth Decay
In case you missed this on our last newsletter, on our YouTube Channel you can now see the first two of a series of five 5 videos that our dental hygienist Wendy created, to explain what happens to teeth when people don’t brush and floss. We’ll be posting the third one next week.
If you like these videos please share them with your family and friends!
Dr. Somerville’s Retirement
It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to Dr. David Somerville after 33½ years with us. This has been his last week on our regular schedule (though he’ll be coming in a few times in 2021 to complete some treatments he began). In our next newsletter we will honor him and his contributions to our practice. For now, we wish him a happy retirement. He has earned it!
And you, Dear Patients, have earned to see 2020 decreasing in your rear view mirrors. To us who are living through this pandemic it will always be ironic to use the expression “with 20/20 hindsight,” won’t it? May 2021 treat us all with kindness. As always, please wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing. Be well and stay well! We look forward to seeing you next year!
Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates