Learn how we are using technology to keep in touch with patients and expand oral health education in our community!
A word from Sonrisas Dental Health’s CEO,Tracey Carrillo Fecher
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones healthy. Sonrisas has been closed except for emergencies since March 16th. Our team has launched multiple virtual dental programs to continue providing services to the low-income children and adults we serve. Dental health affects overall health, making dental education more important than ever. Our dentists recently took a call from an elderly gentleman who broke his dentures, making it difficult to eat. In typical times, we would schedule an in-person appointment, but instead we called pharmacies to ensure he got the right product to repair his dentures. Note: super glue is NOT a good solution here.
By supporting Sonrisas, you make it possible for us to continue bringing dental care to the most vulnerable in our community. Particularly now, with so many unemployed in our area, our San Mateo County neighbors have a smaller margin than ever for when things go wrong. Read on to learn how your support can change our community’s health.
Torrey Rothstein, DDS
Dental Director
The COVID-19 Response Has Impacted Our Clinics
At Sonrisas Dental Health, we take the safety of our patients and staff seriously. On March 16th, when the California Dental Association recommended that dentists limit their practice to emergency and urgent care, we immediately started making changes to our schedule. We canceled elective appointments and routine care at both our Coastside and San Mateo Centers. In order to make sure that we are still available to our patients, we have been accessible via phone 24/7, are exploring ways to evaluate their dental concerns via tele-dentistry and have been available for dental emergencies. We are monitoring changes to the recommendations for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in dentistry so that we can be ready to open our doors again to our patients and to provide the excellent service and care that they have come to expect from Sonrisas Dental Heal
Bonnie Jue, DDS
Community Engagement Director
Serving Our Patients and Community from a Distance
In addition to improving access to quality dental services for our patients, Sonrisas is committed to providing oral health education to the community. Although we cannot engage in-person with our community partners, such as local elementary schools, family resource centers, and older adult assisted living facilities at this time, we can still serve people through our “Smiles Across the Miles” program which enables us to carry out our mission remotely. Through this innovative program, Sonrisas “visits” community members via virtual meetings online and recorded education presentations designed for people of all ages. At a recent virtual classroom session, 30 Kindergarten students danced and played along with games about brushing and flossing away bacteria “sugar bugs!”
We have also been reaching out to our clinical patients, including those who are most vulnerable during these uncertain times, to answer dental-related questions and provide coaching that reinforces positive oral health habits which may prevent future dental problems. One patient who contacted us for a “virtual dental appointment” was grateful for the time we spent guiding him on how to send a picture of his tooth using his smartphone – our live interactive video session made it possible for us to reassure him during a time in which it is challenging to see a dentist.
#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving ,Help us care for our community via
and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 #CoastsideGives! Donations to
as an emergency response to the ,Sonrisas Dental Health will be matched
unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. ,up to $3,300, thanks to our committed
CLICK THE IMAGE TO DONATE! ,and generous Board of ,Directors.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO DONATE!