Our Outside Waiting Room

It is hard to believe that a full year has passed since our office reopened for routine hygiene and elective dental procedures. Our fully vaccinated staff is excited to enter the summer of 2021 with an ongoing commitment to providing exceptional dental care in a safe environment!

The investments we have made to our technology and safety protocols have been successful in keeping our office and staff free from COVID-19 infection or transmission throughout the pandemic, and these safety measures will continue as our patients’ health and safety remain our top priority. As the recommendations of the CDC and NJ Dental Board continue to evolve, we have made ongoing changes to our protocols which are listed on our website.

Please note the following protocols and minor changes to our schedule beginning in June.

• Please continue to complete the online health update and screening forms prior to your appointment.
• Express Check-in will continue.
• Please call when you arrive at the office. Staff will greet you at the front door (Gordonhurst Avenue entrance) and escort you directly to your treatment room.
• Please note that we now have an outside waiting room with several adirondack chairs for use prior to your visit or during your family member’s visit.
• Patients will exit from the parking lot door.
• Please continue to wear masks in all common areas of the office. Although the entire staff is fully vaccinated, we do treat children under 12 and immunocompromised adult patients who remain vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. We appreciate your support in maintaining a safe indoor environment for all patients.
• Multilevel clinical and disinfection safety protocols that exceed standard dental universal precautions will continue along with appropriate PPE for all staff.
• Limited Contact and No-Touch Policies including virtual checkout, e-statements and remote credit card payment will continue. Our staff is always available to assist you in the checkout process.
• Teledentistry Virtual Visits for consultations, new patient interviews and evaluation of dental concerns will continue.
• These visits are complementary and are a good option for patients who would like to discuss their concerns before coming to the office.
• Teledentistry visits are scheduled and conducted remotely with Dr. Ferguson or Dr. Cocchia, both of whom genuinely enjoy speaking with patients without the distraction of PPE and air filtration noise.
• The office will be open on Monday (8-5), Tuesday (8-8), Wednesday (8-6), Thursday (8-8), Friday (8-2), and on 2 to 3 Saturdays per month (8-2).

Today was a big day for several members of Ferguson Dental as they received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine! We are excited and grateful to participate as NJ begins vaccinating healthcare workers and first responders, and we are looking forward to the vaccine quickly becoming available to our wider community and patients!

Please know that all comprehensive clinical safety protocols will continue to ensure our patients' safety (see our website for details of our multilayered safety protocols).

Huge shout out to Frank Del Gaudio of the Essex County Department of Health, staff and volunteers of the Essex County Covid 19 vaccination program - we appreciate your efforts to provide a safe, well-organized, friendly, and vital service to our community - thank you!!!!

Local Resources for Covid-19 Vaccinations:

• Essex County Covid Vaccination
• New Jersey Covid-19 Vaccination Registration Portal

Letter to our Patients

During our recent closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have remained available to treat patients in need of emergency dental procedures. We are pleased to announce that Ferguson Dental is scheduling routine hygiene and elective dental procedures, utilizing new safety protocols, beginning on May 26th, subject to NJ State and NJ Dental Board guidance.

As we embrace our new normal, we want to assure you that your health and safety remain our top priority. While our office has been closed for over two months, we have been hard at work creating the safest possible environment for you and our staff. We have made significant investments in technology and implemented extensive changes to our policies and procedures that go beyond the recommendations of the ADA and CDC. Listed below are a few of the changes that you can expect when visiting our office. Additional details will be posted on our website and specific instructions for your visit will be provided in your appointment confirmation email.

• Online health update and consent forms.
• Express Check-in from your car including a health screening prior to entering the office.
• Multilevel clinical and disinfection safety protocols that exceed standard dental universal precautions.
• Three distinct Air Purification Systems including source dental aerosol treatment room evacuators, a Clean Air Zone BioOx unit, and a germicidal UVC HVAC air purification unit.
• Limited Contact and No-Touch Policies including virtual checkout, e-statements and remote credit card payment.
• Appropriate PPE provided for all staff.
• Modified Schedule consisting of two separate clinical teams (limiting the number of person-to-person interactions), extended appointment times (allowing for additional disinfection and protective gear protocols), and expanded weekly hours.
• Teledentistry Virtual Visits for consultations, new patient interviews and evaluation of dental concerns. These visits are typically free and are a good option for patients who would like to discuss their concerns before coming to the office. Teledentistry visits are scheduled and conducted remotely with Dr. Ferguson or Dr. Cocchia.

• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe infection and swelling that make it difficult to breath or swallow
• Trauma involving facial bones that compromise the ability to breath
  

• Dental Pain
• Wisdom tooth pain and/or gum infection
• Dry sockets
• Abscess, or localized bacterial infection resulting in localized pain and swelling
• Tooth fracture resulting in pain or causing soft tissue trauma
• Dental trauma resulting in a loose or knocked out tooth
• Broken crown or bridge
• Abnormal tissue or lesion in the mouth requiring an evaluation or biopsy

• Extensive dental caries or defective restorations causing pain
• Suture removal
• Denture adjustments or repairs when function is impeded, related to pain, or medical conditions
• Root canal treatment for patients experiencing pain
• Snipping or adjustment of an orthodontic wire or appliances creating pain or discomfort
• Dental treatment that is required prior to critical medical procedures

• Initial or periodic oral examinations and recall visits, including routine radiographs
• Routine dental cleaning and preventive therapies
• Orthodontic procedures other than those to address acute issues (e.g. pain, infection, trauma) or other issues critically necessary to prevent harm to the patient
• Extraction of asymptomatic teeth
• Restorative dentistry including treatment of asymptomatic cavities
• Aesthetic dental procedures
  

Dr. Dave loading his car to deliver PPE including, masks, surgical gowns, gloves and more to hospitals in need through the Essex County Sheriff’s office.
#allinthistogether #strongertogether #essexcountynj #personalprotectiveequipment #thankyounursesanddoctors

• Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Cocchia continue to see emergency patients on an as needed basis. Contact information for the dentist on call is available by calling our office phone number at 973-744-3181. Please do not hesitate to call if you have dental pain or an urgent concern.
• Our office continues to be closed for all elective and routine hygiene procedures.
• Appointments during the week of 3/30- 4/4 have been cancelled and patients have received a call.
• We will reschedule all cancelled appointments as soon as we have a plan in place to reopen.
• We continue to monitor the recommendations of the CDC and ADA along with the NJ State government and dental board. Our goal is to identify and implement all safeguards and procedures to provide for the optimal safety of our patients, staff and community.

• Donated our excess N-95 masks to an emergency room in desperate need.
• Inventoried our remaining PPE supplies and are providing that information to the NJ state authority in charge of collecting and distributing supplies to facilities in need.
• Continued to support community organizations as individuals and as a business to help as much as possible during a challenging time.
• Stayed connected as a team, supporting each other with information and friendship.

• Geri’s son Patrick was named the #1 Tight End in NJ and was also ranked #11 in the USA!
• Our dental assistant Jami, a huge animal lover, has been staying positive by playing tic-tac-toe with 2 of her cats. Her cat Nitti routinely wins!
• Dr. David has never taken more than a week’s vacation in his professional life and for our chatty dentist, social distancing is a challenge. He is grateful to have all three of his adult children at home, Lucy and Jack are working remotely and Tillie is finishing her freshman year at Swarthmore online.
• Our new hygienist Frankie captured the beautiful picture above. Spring is coming, beauty is still around.

Protect Yourself Against Oral Cancer - Knowledge is Power

The mouth, tongue, gums, throat, and lips are sensitive tissues that often develop lesions or sores. In most situations, these sores are not cause for concern and quickly heal. However, Oral Cancer is a genuine concern that can occur among patients of any age or gender. Being aware of the signs and risk factors, as well as scheduling routine hygiene visits on a regular basis, can assist in early diagnosis.

Understanding Oral Cancer

• Oral cancer is divided into two categories.
• Lesions occurring in the mouth including your lips, cheeks, teeth, gums, tongue, and the floor and roof of your mouth
• Lesions occurring in the throat, tonsils and base of the tongue. 
• Early detection may result in better treatment outcomes.
• Oral cancer is fatal for approximately 10,000 people each year.
• The 5-year survival rate of those diagnosed is approximately 60 percent.

• Reddish or whitish patches in the mouth
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, moving your tongue or in the way your teeth fit together when closing your mouth.
• A persistent sore throat, feeling like something is caught in their throat, numbness, hoarseness or a change in voice.

• During a comprehensive dental exam, we will check your oral cavity. This includes your lips, cheek lining, gums, the front part of your tongue, the floor of your mouth and the roof of your mouth. We also examine your throat at the soft part at the roof of your mouth, including your tonsils, the back section of your tongue and where your tongue attaches to the bottom of your mouth. Your jaw will be examined for any lumps or abnormalities.

• If we identify a suspicious lesion, it is important to stay calm and remember that most sores and lesions in the mouth are benign. Depending on what we see, we may ask you to return to the office a week or two later to see if questionable spots are healing on their own, recommend a biopsy be taken, or refer you for additional testing. Working together we develop the best strategy for diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

• Avoid all tobacco products
• Avoid or reduce your consumption of alcohol
• Consume more fruits and vegetables
• Avoid excessive sun exposure that can result in cancer of the lip (using lip balm with an SPF of at least 30 can be helpful)
• Avoid exposure to environmental hazards (wood dust, formaldehyde, printing chemicals)
• Conduct a self-exam monthly so you can catch any of the symptoms listed above. Use a small hand-held mirror so you can see the back of your mouth and tongue. Our hygienists are happy to provide instructions on this sort of home exam.
• Consider coffee. While the jury is still out, some research suggests coffee may help protect the mouth from oral cancer.