Coronavirus Update 5-17-2020

Sharing here a newsletter we sent to our patients today:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Another month has gone by since our last newsletter. The weather is getting warmer, and with it comes the prospect of tip-toeing into a more regular rhythm of daily life. Still, Governor Cuomo and his team are cautious, and this past Friday, the Governor extended NYS on PAUSE through May 28 for regions of the state that did not meet reopening guidelines. Meanwhile, I have picked up on a concerning trend among our patients — previously minor dental problems are continuing to deterioriate into more urgent situations. I hear you and want to give you an update on what you can expect from your dental team at Queensboro Plaza Dental Care.

In case you missed it: our very own Dental Assistant, Minerva (center, seated, with her fiance, Moustafa), got engaged earlier this year. The whole team was honored to attend her memorable engagement party at Terrace on the Park in Queens, NY.

1. New York Dentists’ Offices are essential and open for emergency and urgent care only. The NYS Dental Association has recommended postponing elective dental procedures until further notice. The rationale is two-fold: to conserve masks, gloves, and other increasingly scarce personal protective equipment, while helping to keep patients who need emergency treatment from going to busy emergency rooms. We do not yet have a hard date to reopen for elective procedures.

2. We plan to offer more “regular,” staffed office hours, one or two days a week, by the end of May — for emergencies only. I will send a separate announcement email once it’s official. We would ask that you call our office ahead of coming in to ensure adequate pre-screening.

3. You can now schedule online for your teledentistry consults with us. We continue to offer teledentistry for remote assessment, advice, and prescriptions. You can reach us by email, phone/text to (718) 451-8484, or through our website.

4. Our foremost challenge remains sourcing genuine N95 respirator masks. Dentists and their teams are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19, even from presumably “well” asymptomatic carriers, due to the intimate nature of our work near patients’ mouths and throats. The rate-limiting step for dentists everywhere to reopen is obtaining N95 masks for protection while performing invasive dental procedures. That supply chain may improve by July, but if any of you wonderful patients knows of even a handful of N95 masks to donate or purchase for emergency care, please let us know!

5. As with many aspects of life today, your visits to our dental office will look different when you return. We continue to share with you the changes we’ve made to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Read our blog post How Has COVID-19 Changed The Dental Office to learn more.

6. We invite you to join us in the #HowAreYouReallyChallenge. We can all help people feel OK to open up about their mental health — by asking someone to answer the question, “How are you really doing?” From the standpoint of our dental office, I would also pose the same question to you regarding your dental health. Don’t hesitate to drop us a line and voice your dental anxieties; I’m hear to listen and guide you.

Stay safe and stay strong, New Yorkers!
We look forward to seeing you again, soon!

Michael Nguyen, DDS
Owner, Queensboro Plaza Dental Care

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Patient Reviews

Karoline PammerKaroline Pammer
20:52 30 Mar 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are extremely competent, friendly and professional. He is very thorough and explains everything very clearly. Finally I feel like I am in good hands when it comes to dental care.
Matt SmithMatt Smith
21:18 05 Feb 22
Great overall experience getting a dental cleaning. Very friendly staff, beautifully designed office, and a comfortable experience watching calming Netflix nature programming while in the chair. Complimentary beverages are in the waiting room and so is a little play area for kids.It felt to me that this was a patient-focused family practice as opposed to a cold, corporate dental mill trying to churn through as many patients as possible.I’ll definitely be coming back here for all my dental needs and I highly recommend.
Sundup SherpaSundup Sherpa
22:07 02 Feb 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are very welcoming and they provide an excellent experience every time I visit. I’ve only been here twice for annual checkups but would definitely consider and recommend this place to anyone who appreciates good customer experience and a very thoughtful approach to making sure that you feel at home. I have some procedures set up for later in the month and I must actually be the only person in the world actually looking forward to a dentist appointment.
Jayrockem GottemJayrockem Gottem
21:27 09 Nov 21
Great place wonderful staff they will be my go too dentist 100%
shawaf alishawaf ali
22:08 26 Aug 21
Very confident after leaving the office that my teeth are in greatttt hands. Above and beyond patient care. Very informative visits. A sense that they genuinely care about patient concerns. Added helpful guidelines I took home with me to reach dental hygiene goals before my next visits. Highly recommended you leave your old scary dentist ! 😁😁
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Queensboro Plaza Dental Care

Queensboro Plaza Dental Care