Dear Families,

We hope that this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over these past few months and we are all looking forward to resuming our normal routines, though we recognize that these may be different than they were before! Throughout our temporary physical office closure, we have been working every day to stay in touch with our patients and have been creating new systems to allow for a smooth transition back to our practice.

The health and safety of our patients, team and community have always been a priority. Our governing body has released specific guidelines, all of which we have prepared for.

As we head back to work, the transition requires that priority patients are to be seen initially. We appreciate your patience with your next appointment as not all patients can be seen immediately, but rest assured we will do our very best to ensure your treatment continues as quickly as possible!

Please take time to familiarize yourself with the following Tolmie Orthodontics office protocols:

Before your appointment:

1. We will be screening our patients for symptoms of Covid-19 and ask that any patients who have any Covid-like symptoms, have been exposed to someone ill, or who have travelled within the last 14 days outside of Canada, to reschedule their appointments. Maintaining safety for all our patients and team is our ultimate priority.
2. You must wear a mask to your appointment and throughout the office. If a parent is required to enter the office, they must wear a mask. Masks will not be provided by our office.
3. Please brush and floss your teeth BEFORE you come to the office as there is no longer a Brushing station.

At the time of your appointment:

1. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your appointment time. When you arrive, stay in your car or outside and text (Lakeshore Office: (226) 787-2833 | LaSalle Office: (226) 787-2479) to alert us of your arrival.
2. We ask that each patient enters the office alone. However, there are specific appointments which require a parent/caregiver to be present. We ask that siblings/friends who do not have scheduled appointments do not attend.
3. Our greeter will ask you the pre-screening questions and take your temperature with a contact-free thermometer. Anyone with a temperature greater than 37.8 or other sickness symptoms your appointment will be rescheduled 21 days later. Hand sanitizer will also be provided at the entrance.
4. As always, we strive to respect everyone’s time for their appointments. However, please be patient with us as we implement additional sterilization procedures and new systems for your care and safety. The team will look differently dressed in scrubs, gowns, face shields, etc. We are still the same friendly people underneath all of this garb!

Changes to appointments:

1. There will be a limit on the number of staff and patients in the office at any one time during this transition. To minimize the number of patients in the office and ensure safety of all, our scheduling will reflect our required protocols. We ask for understanding while we will try to address all your treatment needs during your visit. Individuals with multiple broken brackets may not have everything completed during this visit due to strict scheduling times. We appreciate your patience and understanding when booking appointments.
2. To minimize time spent in the office and interpersonal contact, financial contracts and scheduling of next appointments will be done over the phone or email where possible.

Physical changes you will notice to our space:

1. We have placed plexi glass dividers at administrative desks and consultation rooms.
2. We have added air purification units throughout the office, in addition to the systems we already had in place.
3. We have disconnected our patient check-in screens.
4. Reception area is closed to ensure the health and well being of our patients and our team. Magazines and books have been removed from the reception area.
5. Our tooth brushing station has been closed. Please brush your teeth and floss at home prior to your appointment.

We thank you all for your support during this time. Our practice would not exist without our amazing patients, and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these unprecedented times. The safety of our patients, our team and our community is always our top priority. We maintain our commitment to you to deliver the highest quality of orthodontic care in a friendly and welcoming environment.

We look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Dr. Tolmie and the entire Tolmie Orthodontics Team