Temporary Closure

Temporarily closing our Dental Eugene Oregon practice protects our patients and our team from possible exposure to this virus, slows the spread of COVID-19.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we closed our practice doors for what we thought would be a three-week period of time. However, on March 19, 2020, Governor Kate Brown issued executive Order 20-10, which mandated that all dental offices in Oregon must postpone any elective and non-urgent procedures until no earlier than June 15th, 2020. While this executive order has caused a great deal of stress for our patients and dental team, we understand the reasons for the order, and want to make sure you know why we must remain closed, and also what we are still doing for our patients who find themselves in an urgent dental situation.

We will continue to work with patients for dental emergencies in order to prevent those patients from having to go to the hospital or their primary care provider.

Temporarily closing our dental practice protects our patients and our team from possible exposure to this virus, slows the spread of COVID-19, and allows us to conserve and redirect vital PPE (masks, gloves, etc), so it can be used where it is needed most. As requested by the governor, we have donated all of our surplus PPE to local healthcare providers who remain on the front lines of this crisis. By taking these steps, we are doing our part to reduce the damage this virus may otherwise cause to the communities where we live and work.

We will continue to work with patients for dental emergencies in order to prevent those patients from having to go to the hospital or their primary care provider. If you experience any of the problems listed below, please call, text, or email us. We want you to know that we are still here for you, and we care about you. Even though our office doors are closed, these lines of communication are being monitored constantly. We may be able to help you via tele-dentistry, or we may have you come in for an emergency appointment.

Here are some specific examples of what will constitute a dental emergency throughout the coming months:

• Severe dental or mouth pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medications.
• An abscess causing swelling inside the mouth or face.
• Bleeding in the mouth that will not stop.
• A broken tooth that is causing severe pain or damage to nearby soft tissues.
• Trauma to the teeth or to the mouth. This includes things like accidents that have broken teeth or severely lacerated the lips or tongue.
• A temporary crown that has come off, has broken, or is causing severe pain to the tooth or gums.
• Poor-fitting dentures that make it impossible to chew or eat food. Any dentures worn by oncology/radiation patients that are causing sores in the mouth also constitute an urgent situation.

If you do need to come in for a physical appointment throughout this period of closure, please know that we have maintained a sufficient supply of PPE for such appointments. Also be assured that we are taking every possible measure to keep you and our team safe during your visit. If you have any questions about these precautions, please ask.

If you were previously scheduled to see us for a visit before June 15th your appointment has been cancelled and we will contact you to reschedule. Please be patient with us, as there are many, many patients to call. You can click on the Schedule Now button at the end of this email or visit our website and click “Schedule Online Now” to schedule your own appointment for things like exams and cleanings for a date later than June 15th. If the timeline of our closure changes (for better or for worse) we will send updated information.

Thank you for all your kindness and understanding. We will get through this, and we will emerge a stronger community if we are able to maintain our humanity despite and because of the stress and pain we experience through this pandemic. Please know you are always in our thoughts, and again, reach out if we can help in any way.

Sincerely,

Steffen Lassen, DDS
Henry Quest, DMD
Nikki Gray, Practice Manager