In light of recent events in Tulsa Oklahoma, concerning an oral surgeon who possibly infected thousands of patients due to unsanitary practices, we wanted to take a moment to address this issue and give you, our patients and readers, peace of mind.
As I'm sure most of you have hear by now, due to all the media coverage this story is getting, about the incident that all started out of one dental office in Tulsa, OK. An oral surgeon and his staff were practicing unsanitary cleaning methods and therefor were non compliant with health codes.
Here's a link to learn a little more about the story if you don't already know:
http://youtu.be/T4x3DV0l0Sc
As reported by the Associated Press
Our hearts go out to the over 7,000 patients that might have been infected after visiting this practice. What happened cannot be undone, and thankfully the number offices who might not be following the rules 100% is greatly outweighed by the number of offices who do take pride in the cleanliness of their office and the safety protocols they follow.
Here at Weissman Dental we uphold the strictest sterilization steps for your safety and we will never compromise your care. We want to keep you safe and our protocols current. There are daily, weekly, monthly and annual tests, and maintenance procedures we follow. From decontaminating the operatories where you receive your care, sterilization of the instruments that we use, to the maintenance of all our equipment.
The United States Department of Labor has an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that sets strict guidelines for us to follow concerning the well-being of our patients; and is enforced by random inspections. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has recommendations that should be practiced concerning "infection control", meaning how we keep ourselves and our office a clean and sterile environment. You can read more about what these organizations specifically do by clicking the following links:
http://www.osha.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/
Weissman Dental doesn't just blindly follow the rules, we really take them to heart by staying up to date and on top of it. We discuss new techniques and concerns at meetings, we have a staff member who is an OSHA coordinator in the office, and we have open dialogue with patients about any questions or concerns they may have. We here in the office have our dental work done here, and so do our friends and family and we want to make sure you are treated in the same safe manner with the highest quality of care as we want for ourselves and them.
So we challenge you, if you are a patient of ours and you have questions, don't be afraid to ask them. If you have a different dentist, ask them these questions, and if they can't answer them then call our office and we would be happy to care for your needs and answer your questions. There is no need to fear the dentist, all we care about is your safety, health and happiness.
Weissman Dental
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Welcome to our blog!
Welcome readers to our new blog brought to
you by Weissman Dental! We created this
just for you guys, our patients and followers, for the sole purpose of
providing you with fun facts and a plethora of useful information
about your dental health. We want to arm you with the tools to educate yourself
on the importance of your oral health care.
A little bit about our office
Our Doctor
Dr. Weissman graduated from New York University College of Dentistry in 1984. After graduation, Dr. Weissman maintained a private practice in the upper west side of Manhattan and was an assistant professor at NYUCD before moving to Oregon in 1987. Prior to studying at Dental School, she attended The University of Michigan.
Dr. Weissman has been practicing for over 25 years. She has been in her current location since June of 1988. Since she began practicing dentistry, Dr. Weissman has kept up to date on many continuing educational classes, ensuring that her patients receive the most comprehensive and advanced dental care.
Dr. Weissman is a member of the American Dental Association, Multnomah Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, The Sunset Study Club, The Sleep Disorder Study Club, and Alpha Omega.
Dr. Weissman is also very involved in her community. She is or has been a board member of Circle of Life, the Jewish Federation of Portland, The Maimonides Group, and is a charter member of Portlandia.
Our office manager
Michelle Barnett has been in dentistry since 2002 and handles the management, financial and insurance procedures for the office.
You will find that she is highly knowledgeable in insurance billing, creating financial arrangements and being the front line of communication for our patients. Michelle loves being able to help our patients. She is a good source to answer questions and provide guidance through the treatment process. She is here to help you understand the treatment needed and what options are available to you. Michelle has a Bachelors Degree in Accounting & Business Administration and prides herself on her high ethical business practices.
When Michelle is away from the office she enjoys spending time with family and friends in the outdoors. Michelle’s favorite volunteering activity is working with Medical Teams International.
Our staff
Heather leads the hygiene department for Weissman Dental and is also our OSHA Coordinator. Heather Bigbee is a native Oregonian born in Portland. She attended college locally and earned her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from Portland Community College in 1995.
Heather believes in educating her patients on dental health and how it relates to their overall health. She frequently participates in continuing education which helps to keep her current with the latest technology and techniques available in the dental industry. Heather is often complimented on her gentle touch, kindness, and attention to detail.
Beyond work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, often sports related and most often outdoors. Heather also likes to spend time volunteering in her children's classrooms.
Heather invests in the community by volunteering her time to screen elementary children in need of dental care for the non-profit organization, "Stand For Children." Heather also visits local kindergarten classes to educate children about their dental care.
Margaret Quintana, or “Maggie” as we know her, has been a practicing hygienist for over 30 years. Maggie loves what she does and our patients agree. Maggie enjoys that she helps to maintain both a healthy smile and also her patients overall health.
She grew up in Colorado and graduated from dental hygiene school in Sheridan, Wyoming. Maggie worked in Montana and Wyoming before moving to Oregon 33 years ago. Traveling is a particular interest to Maggie. Recent trips include Australia, Alaska and many to Colorado. It is also important to Maggie to help those who can’t afford dental care and was the hygienist for a dental team that went to Uganda.
Maggie has 2 wonderful children who keep her active as well as her involvement with church and choir, gardening, reading, skiing, and camping.
Brittany is a 2012 graduate from the dental
assisting program at Portland
Community College. She
has been inspired to work in dentistry from a young age, and absolutely loves
her career and cannot wait to grow and learn all that she can.
She believes in connecting with each and every patient and educating them on their dental health needs. Keeping up to date on the latest research and technology is very important to Brittany, as well as exploring different volunteering opportunities.
Outside of work Brittany enjoys the outdoors, exploring Portland and spending time with family and friends.
Shelby has been in dentistry since
2009 and is a graduate from Central
Oregon Community
College. Her desire to help each patient with
their different, individual needs, and to continue learning, led her to
Weissman Dental.
Shelby is a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA). Shelby is always eager to stay current on the latest dental research and techniques, and participates in numerous education courses throughout the year. She enjoys broadening her education, exploring Portland, and spending time with friends and family.
You can be assured you're in good hands with Shelby. She's calm yet focused and loves giving patients a better smile as a result of her work.
A little bit about our office
Our Doctor
Dr. Weissman graduated from New York University College of Dentistry in 1984. After graduation, Dr. Weissman maintained a private practice in the upper west side of Manhattan and was an assistant professor at NYUCD before moving to Oregon in 1987. Prior to studying at Dental School, she attended The University of Michigan.
Dr. Weissman has been practicing for over 25 years. She has been in her current location since June of 1988. Since she began practicing dentistry, Dr. Weissman has kept up to date on many continuing educational classes, ensuring that her patients receive the most comprehensive and advanced dental care.
Dr. Weissman is a member of the American Dental Association, Multnomah Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, The Sunset Study Club, The Sleep Disorder Study Club, and Alpha Omega.
Dr. Weissman is also very involved in her community. She is or has been a board member of Circle of Life, the Jewish Federation of Portland, The Maimonides Group, and is a charter member of Portlandia.
Our office manager
Michelle Barnett has been in dentistry since 2002 and handles the management, financial and insurance procedures for the office.
You will find that she is highly knowledgeable in insurance billing, creating financial arrangements and being the front line of communication for our patients. Michelle loves being able to help our patients. She is a good source to answer questions and provide guidance through the treatment process. She is here to help you understand the treatment needed and what options are available to you. Michelle has a Bachelors Degree in Accounting & Business Administration and prides herself on her high ethical business practices.
When Michelle is away from the office she enjoys spending time with family and friends in the outdoors. Michelle’s favorite volunteering activity is working with Medical Teams International.
Our staff
Heather leads the hygiene department for Weissman Dental and is also our OSHA Coordinator. Heather Bigbee is a native Oregonian born in Portland. She attended college locally and earned her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from Portland Community College in 1995.
Heather believes in educating her patients on dental health and how it relates to their overall health. She frequently participates in continuing education which helps to keep her current with the latest technology and techniques available in the dental industry. Heather is often complimented on her gentle touch, kindness, and attention to detail.
Beyond work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, often sports related and most often outdoors. Heather also likes to spend time volunteering in her children's classrooms.
Heather invests in the community by volunteering her time to screen elementary children in need of dental care for the non-profit organization, "Stand For Children." Heather also visits local kindergarten classes to educate children about their dental care.
Margaret Quintana, or “Maggie” as we know her, has been a practicing hygienist for over 30 years. Maggie loves what she does and our patients agree. Maggie enjoys that she helps to maintain both a healthy smile and also her patients overall health.
She grew up in Colorado and graduated from dental hygiene school in Sheridan, Wyoming. Maggie worked in Montana and Wyoming before moving to Oregon 33 years ago. Traveling is a particular interest to Maggie. Recent trips include Australia, Alaska and many to Colorado. It is also important to Maggie to help those who can’t afford dental care and was the hygienist for a dental team that went to Uganda.
Maggie has 2 wonderful children who keep her active as well as her involvement with church and choir, gardening, reading, skiing, and camping.
She believes in connecting with each and every patient and educating them on their dental health needs. Keeping up to date on the latest research and technology is very important to Brittany, as well as exploring different volunteering opportunities.
Outside of work Brittany enjoys the outdoors, exploring Portland and spending time with family and friends.
Shelby is a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA). Shelby is always eager to stay current on the latest dental research and techniques, and participates in numerous education courses throughout the year. She enjoys broadening her education, exploring Portland, and spending time with friends and family.
You can be assured you're in good hands with Shelby. She's calm yet focused and loves giving patients a better smile as a result of her work.
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