Lockdown 3
Are you open as usual during Lockdown?
Yes, with our normal opening hours. We are providing the full range of care including check ups, hygienist care, fillings, implants and emergency care. Patients are invited to attend for their appointments as normal, following our Covid safety measures.
With the stay at home message, should I attend for dental appointments?
The government guidance is a definite yes. They are keen for all routine and urgent health care to continue uninterrupted. Dental surgeries are recognised as very safe environments, with no cases of COVID spread reported worldwide.
Are hygienist appointments classified as medical care?
Yes. The old fashioned view that the hygienist simply removes staining and tartar for essentially cosmetic purposes is far from the truth. The hygienist’s role is to help patients manage their oral microbiome, i.e the balance of bacteria present in their mouths. It is recognised that this bacteria can not only damage the gums but can affect general health and is suspected to contribute to COVID complications. Our patients who are at highest risk of gum disease will have been recommended to see the hygienist every 2-3 months for ongoing treatment.
What if I am shielding?
If you are shielding please talk to us at the practice to discuss what we can do to protect and provide for you. We can offer early morning appointments to avoid contact with other patients. Our team wear PPE including a mask at all times. They will escort you from the car directly to the surgery and back again. We can also arrange emergency telephone consultations and deliver medications to your door. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any dental concerns.
Are there any restrictions to treatment provided?
There are no restrictions on the delivery of private dental care. Many NHS dental services are limited due to capacity issues however private dental care with us offers you full access with no waiting lists or restrictions.
Enquiries from new patients are welcome, we are doing our best to accommodate anyone in the community with dental needs.
What Safety Measures are in Place and what do I need to do?
Most of our patients will already be familiar with the additional, robust safety measures we implemented in 2020 in response to the pandemic. We will continue to screen our patients and email a patient information sheet prior to your appointment. This will explain any updates to our COVID protocols and what to do. Measures include wearing a mask and hand sanitising. With the rise in cases in our county, in January we will be limiting waiting room use to one family group and asking patients to wait in their cars. We extract and replace all the air from the surgeries after drilling and keep windows open to ensure the practice is well ventilated so it can be a little chilly, wear a coat or please feel free to bring a blanket for long appointments.
Please do not attend if you or a close contact have had any symptoms of Coronavirus, a new and continuous cough, a high temperature, loss of taste or smell.
If you have any questions, any particular needs or concerns, please call and talk to our team who will be happy to help. We would like to thank all our patients for their cooperation and support. We hope you and your families are keeping well and look forward to seeing you at your next appointment,