Oro Valley Smiles

08/21/2022

01/05/2021

We’ve been brushing our teeth since we could hold a toothbrush. Still, there are some common mistakes that we all make once in a while.

12/23/2020

Dr. Len Gerken and Oro Valley Smiles

06/04/2020

Good Evening OVS Patients, Friends and all! Happy Hump Day. We are so glad to be open and doing what we love....

I truly hope each of you are either at home or at work - safe and well, despite the absolutely inconceivable reality that greets us here, at this time, every day! It is an incredibly challenging time; one that just keeps jumping to the next mind blowing level. Remember: Breathe. Breathe, again. OK, what's next...

Regardless of the difficulties each of us face, do your best today to put forth some positive energies toward not only someone you know, but also, maybe, someone you don't... How hard is it to smile at a stranger? Hold a door open for someone so they don't have to touch it and risk their life ( I know, REALLY?) Maybe even let a car go in front of you? Whatever it is... DO. THE. NEXT. RIGHT. THING!

Simple, right? Blessings to all and hope to see you soon to smile at you, even if I can't hug you or shake your hand...

Dr G and the AMAZING staff at OVS

05/21/2020

Happy Wednesday!!!! OV Smiles is OPEN and in week 2 Post COVID Shutdown and Busy, busy busy seeing all those wonderful and welcome faces and smiles...

We hope you are well and life is starting to resume to some semblance of it's former fullness. Arizona has certainly been on the leading edge of the return to work/life, and it has been great to go to a restaurant and get a haircut.

These ladies pictured: Evie, Carrie and Allona as well as the May return of Kelly Mercado have been such a blessing to the office, our patients and my life. I am so grateful for their courage, enthusiasm and efforts for us to return to practicing the profession we love.

Come see us soon and get things back on track, we'll leave the light on for ya!!!

05/03/2020

REOPENING May 6, 2020!!!!

May 3, 2020

TO: Our Valued OV Smiles Patrons, Patients and Friends,
RE: Oro Valley Smiles “RE-OPENING” on May 6, 2020 for Essential Care

We hope this greeting finds you and your family in good health. Our local and even global communities have been through unprecedented events and life altering experiences over the last few months. Many of us are struggling to determine how best to respond and/or emerge and move forward with our personal and professional lives… There are no simply no easy and clear cut answers across our social, economic and demographic differences…
Despite all these difficulties, our community has made the decision to move forward. The Arizona Governor and Department of Health have given the healthcare community the permission to resume operations, effective May 1, 2020. We are excited to get back to work and provide the essential dental care our patients need, but with a renewed zeal and commitment to the health and safety of our employees and patients. Enhanced total office sanitation and disinfecting procedures are our new normal, and Infection control will continue to be a top priority for our practice. We closely monitor procedures recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American and Arizona Dental Associations (ADA/AzDA).
We will be reaching out to you all by phone in the coming days, weeks and months in an attempt to personally speak to you about future appointments, treatment, and any questions or concerns you may have about resuming the care of your Oral and Overall Health. When you do return to see our familiar and welcoming faces, which we hope is soon, you will notice some changes. We have made these changes to help protect our patients and staff based on local and national medical, legal and dental reasons. For example:
• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you arrive to the office.
• Upon arrival, for some period of time, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your current status and health and your temperature will be taken.
• We have a “Sanitation Station” with gloves, masks and hand sanitizer available for your use when you enter the office.
• You will notice our waiting room has been reconfigured and we will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. Coffee, Tea and Water, will still be available, upon request with Staff Assistance.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time, and may even need to be asked to wait in your vehicle, while we sanitize, disinfect and prepare for your appointment.
There is no question that things are and will be different and “returning to normal,” whatever that is, is not a reasonable expectation… What you can count on is that we are committed to each other and to our patients. 100%! We will do whatever needs to done to answer your questions and deliver the care you deserve and have come to expect from us. We can’t wait to see you and care for you and move forward… When you are ready and comfortable, we will be here to make your appointment. Call our office, send us an email or visit our website. Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Len Gerken DMD

04/17/2020

Greetings Facebook and OVS Patrons & Friends

It's been awhile since I have posted here - Crazy times, for sure... I don't have any revelational material to throw out there, but I am hoping that sometime in Early May in Tucson, life can begin returning to some semblance of normalcy, if we will ever know what normal looks like again... It's definitely going to be different....

I sent out a letter to my patients today and I am also sharing it here on FB. Stay tuned, Be Well and Safe, Make the most of this pause on the "LIFE" button and have a great weekend...

LBG

April 17, 2020

Dear Valued OV Smiles Patrons, Patients and Friends,

On behalf of myself, Evie, Carrie and Allona here at Oro Valley Smiles, I sincerely hope this update finds you and your loved ones continuing to remain physically well and relatively content at this unparalleled, unique and challenging time for our nation and world… I sincerely empathize, again, with each of you and your families concerning the personal, emotional, and financial challenges that have been realized by the COVID-19 Pandemic and fallout of the societal response to “Stay Home, Stay Safe and Stay Connected…”
Unfortunately, our office continues to remain in a restricted access status, and we are seeing ONLY new or existing patients for the evaluation and emergent treatment of conditions that affect the foreseeable health, wellness and quality of life of a patient or potential patient. CALL US if you need us! My hope, at this time, is that we will be contacting you soon, ideally in Early May, less than a couple weeks away, to begin to schedule/reschedule essential dental hygiene cleanings and vital restorative dental treatment appointments.
Please know that we are committed, now more than ever, in not only maintaining our current exceptionally stringent sterilization standards, but keeping abreast of the new evolution of Infection Control Standards that will come out of this Pandemic. As a Dental Office, we already observe “Universal Precautions” to provide and maintain a safe and hygienic environment for our staff and patients. While we are obviously spending a little extra time and effort during the pandemic, we will strive to evolve and expand those standards on the other side of this crisis! The safety and well-being of our patients and staff will continue to be MY primary concern.
We will continue to monitor the status of our State and Federal Mandates related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as local City and County mandates regarding our plans to reopen the practice. I URGE you to contact us, at any time, if you have are having any urgent dental problem, or have any questions or concerns about all this by phone at the office at 520-498-0500; or on Dr Gerken’s cell phone at 541-990-1092; as well as by email at [email protected]. Our Website (ovsmiles.com) and page (Oro Valley Smiles) will also provide regular updates on when we will be resuming “normal” operations.
Thank You! for your continued patience and understanding during this time and for your continued support and trust in us, and we look forward to helping you and yours resuming the road to ideal Oral and “Whole Body Health” very soon!

Respectfully and Professionally,
Len Gerken DMD and Staff

03/27/2020

Happy Friday March 27th

It's been a week since the last post announcing the Mandatory Change for OVS to ONLY do emergent Dentistry. I hope all of you are well and making the most of this "pause" in our personal & professional lives. I pray the stimulus packages that Congress and the White House have been working on pass, are immediately put into action, & reach the folks that need it the most, ASAP.

I posted this information on my personal site yesterday - FYI - Please read. I have also heard unconfirmed that possibly NSAIDS - Aspirin, Ibuprophen, Aleve, etc. MAY play an accelerating role in COVID 19... REMEMBER, If you have a fever for any reason, Acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc) is ALWAYS the best antipyretic (fever) med out there...

Just some COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Virus) information to pass along from the Pain Clinic my Dad sees here in Tucson - seems in line with what I have heard and is good basic info...

SORRY IT IS SO LONG, but what else are we doing right now?

Continue to follow all guidance and protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and local public health departments regarding COVID-19:

* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.

* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.

* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.

* NO BACTERICIDE SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; they cannot kill what is not alive with antibiotic, but quickly disintegrate its structure with everything said.

* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only between 3 hours (fabric and porous),
4 hours (copper, because it is naturally antiseptic; and wood, because it removes all the moisture and does not let it peel off and disintegrates). ), 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic). But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.

* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars. They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.

* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer.

* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.

* LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol.

* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

* This is super said, but you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, k***s, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.

* You have to HUMIDIFY HANDS DRY from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.

* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there

Stay SAFE and enjoy the great big pause button life has handed us... As well as you can, I understand lots of folks are facing significant challenges, especially financially :(

Be well and Be Safe!

03/20/2020

STILL OPEN for Emergent Dental Needs DESPITE limitations on Routine Dental Care... Go to www.ovsmiles.com for more info...

Greetings to My Valued and Appreciated Patrons and Patients of Oro Valley Smiles:

I hope this email/letter finds you physically well and relatively content at this UNPRECEDENTED time for our community and Nation. I empathize with each of you and your families relative to the emotional, financial and potential health challenges that lie ahead as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and our countries response to said Pandemic. It truly affects each and every one of us!

This past Monday, the American Dental Association RECOMMENDED that all Dental Offices cease performing elective Dental Procedures, effective immediately. Yesterday, however, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed Executive Order 2020-10 MANDATING that effective Saturday March 21, 2020 at 8 AM, “all non-essential or elective surgeries, including elective dental procedures, that utilize personal protective equipment shall not be performed at any licensed healthcare facility or by any licensed healthcare provider in the State of Arizona. This order shall remain in place until further notice and shall be reconsidered for repeal or revision every two weeks following issuance.”

Despite this MANDATE - WE WILL BE OPEN and available to see patients during this time for Emergent Dental Care! If you or someone you know is unable to be seen for whatever reason, see the explanation BELOW for how to reach us and be seen...

To Be Clear, we are unable to provide “routine dental treatment” (fillings, crowns or cleanings, etc.) for at least the next two weeks and have or will soon be cancelling hygiene services and routine/non-emergent dental care. We WILL, however, continue to see existing or NEW patients for the evaluation and emergent treatment of conditions that ”threaten permanent dysfunction or impairment of any body part,” or that in the judgment of Dr Gerken adversely affect the foreseeable health, wellness and quality of life of a patient or potential patient, on a limited and as needed basis.

I sincerely apologize for the challenges this presents to each of you, and regardless of our individual feelings on the appropriateness of the response our Nation, State and Local Municipalities have made for us during this pandemic, I do have the legal and civic responsibility to abide by said proclamations and mandates.

Therefore, we will be making time over the next two weeks and beyond, as mandated, for the evaluation and treatment of “Emergency Dental Needs” on a “as needed” and limited basis. Please either (1) call the office (520-498-0500) and either leave a message on our voicemail system or choose the appropriate voicemail option to contact Dr. Gerken directly by cell phone about making a time to be seen, or (2) send us an email ([email protected]) relaying your emergent need and situation AND we will make every reasonable effort to see you in as timely a fashion as possible. We have NOT abandoned you!

Thank You So Very Much for your patience and understanding during this historically challenging and unprecedented time and know that we will find a way to take care of you and get through this challenge!

Respectfully and Professionally,
Len Gerken DMD and Staff