Clinic Update for 2021: Covid-19

We have been providing face to face care since 8th June under new guidelines relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been challenging but our team are very pleased that we have been able to help many people who had suffered dental problems during the lockdown. 

Due to the much reduced capacity created by following the new guidelines we are still unable to resume regular check ups or a normal service.   We have been having one surgery dedicated to starting children's check ups but we have paused this for the time being so we can catch up on outstanding treatments from lockdown. We will be commencing childrens' check ups again from April 2021.  If your child/children had a check up cancelled due to  lockdown please wait for us to contact you for an appointment.   We are still open for emergencies.  If you had an appointment for treatment cancelled in the last few months please be reassured that you are on the waiting list and we will call you to arrange an appointment when we can see you.  Should you have any problems please call the practice and you will be able to speak to a dentist for advice.

Our hygienists are currently seeing patients.  Due to guidelines surrounding Aerosol Generating Procedures we are unable to use UltraSonic scalers but are able to provide handscaling and polishing.  We have had to increase the Hygienist fee to £60 to cover the cost of extra PPE necessary.

Our implant and orthodontic services are running at a slightly reduced capacity.

The clinic as you are aware was always a clean and safe environment. However, we have placed hand sanitisers at entry points, have the appropriate PPE and redesigned the patient journey in line with social distancing.  With the exception of children and patients with carers, patients should come alone.  Patients should bring a mask if possible, or be prepared to wear one.

We will be conducting pre-screening tests of patients which is likely to include taking your temperature on arrival and a thorough questionnaire. 

We will be booking your appointments to ensure that the Practice and waiting areas are not overcrowded. We will do this by leaving suitable gaps between appointments, making sure that you can attend the Practice while maintaining a suitable distance from one another in accordance with Government guidelines.

To further avoid overcrowding when you arrive at the practice, we ask that you wait outside the Practice until called in. We will invite you in when ready.

We will ask that you pay using a contactless card or online payment method.  These steps greatly reduce touch points at the Practice.

We have purchased extra-oral vac stations (pictured below) which along with high volume intra oral suction will greatly reduce and neutralise any dispersal during aerosol generating procedures. Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGP) are described/defined as procedures that result in the production of airborne particles (aerosols) that create the potential for airborne transmission of infections that may otherwise only be transmissible by the droplet route. Aerosol Generating Procedures in dental care include use of highspeed dental drills and ultrasonic scalers. Between all appointments as always, the dental team will thoroughly disinfect the dental surgery using a safe antibacterial/virucidal cleaning solution. The reception and waiting areas will also be routinely cleaned with the same solution along with the hallways. These measures will greatly reduce the risk of exposure to anything harmful while you are in our dental chair.