COVID-19
Practice Re-opening Information
Patient Letter
New Patient Journey
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental Emergency
New Patient Journey
Here at Our Dental Practice, we understand that the current situation has been a testing time for everyone, but also that we need to ensure we are still able to care for you and your dental needs. That is why we have been working relentlessly to completely redesign the way we operate so that we can begin to welcome you back as safely and as quickly as possible.
Every single decision we have made and step we have taken has been with a focus on the safety of you, our colleagues and clinicians. We understand that things may feel different to your usual experience of a dental visit, and that you may be concerned, so here is some information on how your new visit will look and feel.
Before Your Appointment
To ensure that you have all the information easily to hand, we will send you all the key information before your appointment- including who you will be seeing, what treatment you will be having, the cost of your treatment and what to do when you arrive. It is possible that we may ask you to complete the forms at home and scan them to us if possible, so please do not print this out and bring it with you to the practice. If this is not possible you can fill the forms over the phone and read and sign the consent and estimate when you arrive. Please do not forget to bring a pen with you.
On the day of your Appointment
Before you depart for the practice, we ask that where possible, you have already visited the lavatory, have ensured that you are well hydrated and already brushed your teeth. It is important that you do not bring a large number of things into the practice with you, so please ensure you only bring the absolute necessary items with you.
When you arrive, the doors of the practice will be locked, so use the doorbell or call us to let our team know you have arrived. Either stay in your car or outside the building (whilst maintaining good social distancing protocols). To minimise the risk, please ensure you attend your appointment alone unless you require assistance or are supporting a child or someone vulnerable.
We are encouraging card payments only so where possible, please do not arrive with cash.
Entering the Practice
When it is time for your appointment, one of our team will call you to notify you to approach the practice. Please let us know if you do not have a mobile phone and we will make alternative arrangements. Before entering the practice, one of our trained colleagues will take your temperature to ensure you do not have a fever and invite you in if your temperature is safely below 37.5 degrees centigrade. Unfortunately, if it is above 37.5 degrees, we will have to rearrange your appointment for the safety of all those in the practice. Once you have been invited into the practice, you will be asked to step on the disinfectant mat to disinfect the walking surface of your footwear and sanitise your hands and place any loose belongings like your coat or a bag in a designated box provided. You will be given a plastic bag for your phone and car keys which you can take with you into the surgery. We request you not to touch door handles, switches or any surfaces if possible.
We will require payment before your appointment (if appropriate over the phone when you book your appointment), ideally by card, using our freshly disinfected card machines to ensure you can have a swift departure once your treatment has finished. Our practice colleagues will be behind protective screens, but this is for the safety of everyone. No other patients will be waiting in the reception. You will be guided to the appropriate treatment room, following the distance markers that will be displayed throughout practice.
Treatment
Upon entering the treatment room, you will be invited to sit down on the dental chair. You will see our team will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to provide you with the right care and service, they cannot adhere to social distancing recommendations. This may mean that it is more difficult to see our colleague’s and clinician’s faces but please be reassured that they will be your usual friendly team.
If you are attending for a treatment that requires an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) or any procedure that has the potential to cause spray, you will be asked to carefully swill your mouth with hydrogen peroxide mouthwash for 1 minute. One of our team will talk you through this on the day.
After your Appointment
When your treatment is complete, you will given hand sanitizer to use, you will collect all your belongings and leave the practice via a different door to which you entered. If you have any questions after the appointment, we will be able to call you to discus this further as our aim is to minimise your time in the practice, for your own safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the practice open for Routine care?
We are planning to open our practice on 29th June 2020. At first, we do expect that there will be many patients who will want to come back and see us right away, so we will prioritize appointments based on the patient’s need. Maintaining our new safety measures also means we won’t be able to see as many patients each day as we did pre Covid-19. We will be managing our dairies as best as we can and contacting patients as soon as possible, but please be aware that it might take us a little longer to schedule your appointment if it is for routine dental care.
2. How are patients being prioritized?
At first, we do expect to see patient with dental emergencies and in pain. We will then be contacting patients whose treatment has been left incomplete. We will contact patients for their routine check up and appointments as soon as we can.
3. Can I make a new appointment?
After being closed for face-to-face appointments since March 23rd, there are many patients getting in touch, particularly those who have been in pain and discomfort. We will be prioritizing them and then we will be able to offer new appointments for check ups at a later date.
4. I am in the middle of ongoing treatment, will I be able to make appointment to complete the treatment?
From our records, we have the names of patients who need their treatment to be completed. Our reception staff will be calling those patients whose appointments had to be cancelled due to the lockdown and will re- book their appointments to complete the treatments.
5. My regular check up appointment had to be cancelled due to the Lockdown. Can I re-book the appointment now?
From our records, we have the names of patients whose appointments had to be cancelled due to lockdown. Our Reception staff will contact all the patients on turn and re-book their appointment.
6. Is it safe to have dental treatment while some Covid-19 restrictions are still in place?
Following the Covid-19 outbreak, we have put extra precautions in place to protect our patients and staff. These measures are based on the best available evidence. It’s to ensure your safety so you can continue to visit our practice. When you visit us next time you will find lot of changes. Please see New patient Journey for more details.
Dental Emergency
If you have a Dental Emergency, please call us on 01903895749 to speak to our on-call dentist for advice. We may prescribe medication, or if needed, book you in to see a dentist for treatment.
Appointments MUST be made in advance. Please don’t arrive at our practice without a prior appointment.
Patients should visit A&E if they have:
- Jaw swelling that is causing difficulty in breathing or swallowing
- Swelling causing you to be very unwell
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Facial Trauma