Reopening of Dorset Dental Clinic
Dear Patients,
We very much hope that you and your family are in good health.
We are very pleased to inform you that we now have official permission to reopen Dorset Dental Clinic on Monday 6th of July 2020
We are very thankful for your understanding during this time and thank you for your continued support and loyalty to the practice. These have been very difficult times for all of us and we understand that many of you have been unable to access the dental care you need. One of our team will be in contact with you over the coming weeks, to make any appointments required and to reschedule any appointments we have had to postpone. Please feel free to call our team if you need an appointment urgently or would like to get your treatment booked asap.
Our priority, as always, is your safety and your care, and we would like to offer you the reassurance that we have re-examined all of our procedures and protocols to ensure they give the highest level possible of safety to you and our staff.
We have always had very high levels of infection control in the practice, but we have enhanced these measures even further to meet and go beyond new regulations and guidelines following the Covid19 pandemic.
You will, therefore, notice several changes when you have your next appointment. These will include:
- Before your appointment, you will be contacted by one of our team and will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding your overall general health. This is to ensure that you do not have symptoms of Covid-19 when you come to the practice.
- You will be asked to thoroughly brush your teeth before arrival to the practice, this is more important than you may think. Toothpaste contain a substance known as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate which acts as a detergent. The virus is surrounded by a fatty shell, which is destroyed by detergents such as soap and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) (use your usual toothpaste if you have stopped using toothpaste containing SLS because of a reaction you have had in the past to SLS).
- Where possible, you may be asked to wait in your car until your scheduled appointment time, this is to limit the number of patients in our waiting areas. This protocol will be relaxed as the community spread of the virus reduces.
- It is prudent to wear freshly laundered clothes prior to visiting us. Where possible come straight from home to us and do not mingle anywhere on the way. We advise you stay at home where possible as per government guidelines. If you have been working that day, we would prefer you to go home, have a shower, and change your clothes before coming to us.
You will be asked to wash your hands or to use hand sanitiser on entering the practice. - You may be asked to wear certain personal protective items including face masks and gloves. We will supply and dispose of these items for you, but you are welcome to bring your own.
- Perspex shield or ‘germ-guards’ have been installed along with the reception desk.
- We ask that you always practice social distancing whilst in public areas.
- If possible, we will request that you do not bring a companion with you, so we are able to limit the number of people within the practice for everyone’s safety. If you do require assistance, one of our friendly team will be happy to help.
- You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines and so forth since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- You are likely to see your dentist/hygienist-therapist and nursing staff wearing additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Unfortunately, some of our PPE makes us look scary, but we are simply following government guidelines, which may well be relaxed as further evidence comes our way. At the moment, it is a ‘better safe than sorry’ attitude.
- Please be assured that it is still your old friendly team under these garments, and we apologise for lack of visual expression or our usual extended ‘banter’. Hopefully, this will only be for the short term.
- As much as possible we will make your journey as contactless as we can, therefore receipts and treatment plan will be emailed to you after your appointment. We would also appreciate it if payments are not made in cash.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the practice on 01202 973300
Again, we would like to thank you for your understanding and patience during these extraordinary times and we very much look forward to seeing you soon.
Stay safe.
The Team at Dorset Dental Clinic
Our door is always open!