As the country thoughtfully emerges from lockdown, and dentists reopen, we are beginning to see a limited number of patients for face-to-face appointments again.
All service providers, from supermarkets to hairdressers and shops are having to adapt and introduce new ways of working.
In a dental practice, we follow strict guidelines to keep patients and staff safe, which is why we are moving forward with due care. In dentistry, all staff are highly trained in infection control and prevention.
Therefore, we’d like to reassure you we’re doing everything we can to create a safe environment for patients and staff.
Please keep reading for more detailed explanations of what to expect from your dental services as we open our doors to you again.
Dentists gradually reopen during June
Back in March, dentists were shut down with immediate effect.
With only six working days notice, the Prime Minister and Chief Dental Officer announced that dentists can reopen from June 8th. After two months away, we promptly began to prepare our return to work.
As the majority of staff were either furloughed or obliged to take holiday leave, only a core group was working, mostly from home. This means that the practices really were closed. So now there was a lot of preparation work to do. Not just cleaning, although that was a priority. But also checking equipment, running machinery, servicing pumps and filter systems, to mention just a few.
Guiding bodies in the dental sector distributed new guidelines for equipment and cleaning. Our purchasing department has sourced a long list of additional supplies. But as you’ll know from media coverage, some items are hard to come by, so we’ve had to wait until deliveries arrived. But now we have everything we need to get back to work.
As we start seeing our first patients this week*, we know it may seem as though we’re off to a slow start. But, it’s important that our dental environment is safe for our patients and staff.
Is it safe to go to a dentist?
Is it safe to go to a dentist?
The short answer is “Yes.”
In fact, not going to the dentist could lead to other health problems if you develop an oral infection.
As dentists, we implement rigorous standards of sanitation for patient and staff protection.
Infection control and prevention is a vital part of our regular working routines. Due to current public health concerns, when you next go to your dentist you’ll see additional safety measures in place appropriate for the current health alert level.
How do I make an appointment?
How do I make an appointment?
To begin with, patients with urgent needs will come in for face to face appointments. By the end of June, we hope to book patients for routine dental care. We’ll keep everyone updated, so please keep an eye on our news items and Facebook.
Although we have updated our telecommunications so we can handle more calls, it’s better if you contact us by email first, or through the website contact form. This means our staff can call you when they have time to focus on your needs. They’ll need to ask questions to find out how and when we can help you.
Before you attend an in-person appointment, we will communicate as much as possible by phone or email, so you’ll know what to expect and you won’t have to spend too much time in the practice.
New requirements during the initial phases of reopening
For example:
increased pre-appointment communication by email and phone
entry to the practice strictly by appointment only
patients attend appointments alone, unless agreed by prior arrangement for translation or chaperoning
preventive measures such as temperature checks, social distancing, patient hand sanitising
surgeries remain empty for longer between patients
enhanced deep cleaning using stronger products
payments in advance over the phone or by bank transfer
What have dentists been doing for the last two months?
What have dentists been doing for the last two months?
It’s a fair question. Why weren’t dentists ready to open immediately the government set a date?
The government decision to close down dentists took us all by surprise, there’s no denying that. We do understand, however, and support the intention to limit the transmission of the Covid-19 virus by replacing regular dentists with Urgent Dental Care hubs.
SpaDental’s first response was to set up an Advice and Triage Service, so that patients having a problem at home could get advice as well as information about suitable analgesics and antimicrobials. It was not ideal, but the only service we could offer given the circumstances.
Our aim is always to help our patients have a comfortable mouth, and we regret that some of you will have been uncomfortable, or even in pain, while we were closed. During this time, a team of clinicians has advised around 500 patients.
During the lockdown, practices were closed, and most staff were furloughed or had to take holiday. A core team was answering calls and triaging patients.
Over the last two weeks, core staff have worked hard to revise operating procedures and establish new work routines.
What does reopening mean for patients?
As dentists reopen, what does that mean for patients?
We know some patients are waiting anxiously for their dentist to reopen.
Perhaps you’ve had to manage toothache with analgesics, your dentures have been hurting or you’ve chipped your tooth. Whatever the problem, you’re waiting to see a dentist as soon as you can.
However, even though we’re reopening our doors, it still can’t be business as usual. As health care providers we are guided by regulatory bodies and prioritise patient and staff safety.
Therefore, while we work on introducing new procedures not all services will be available immediately. We are working towards offering our usual full range of services as soon as we can.
Why are some treatments limited?
Why are some treatments limited?
Some of the most common dental procedures create an aerosol effect.
Dentists use water in procedures that, even with high-powered suction, can spray into the air. Droplets of spray from the mouth will include saliva too, and if the patient carries germs, those will spread into the air.
Under current circumstances, dentists performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) should wear full personal protective equipment (PPE), the sort that would be used in a hospital intensive care setting. The use of PPE requires fitting tests and special training.
Treatments that create aerosols are, for example, fillings and root canals, some hygiene therapies, and really any treatment that combines high speed tools with water. In many cases the dentist can make alternative suggestions. Although these treatments may take longer and seem a bit old-fashioned, they offer solutions. Your dentist will discuss options with you.
We are currently risk-assessing treatments, organising staff fitting and training sessions as well as re-organising surgery allocations to accommodate AGPs in a later phase of our reopening plan.
*Please note: the practices that are open from Monday 15th June for face-to-face appointments are: SpaDental Chard, Plymouth, Saltash, Tewkesbury, Whichurch and Wotton.
