We remain open to provide all our dental services
- by Claire Rath
- Dental
As a community we have pulled together to tackle the threat of this virus and we ask for your cooperation in ensuring that your visit to our practice minimises the risk of infection.Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff. Our approach is based on the Guidance on Managing Infection Related Risks in Dental Services from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre with the HSE published on the 15th May 2020.
This guidance updates the well-established cross infection precautions already in place for several years within dental practices to deal with the greater health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. You will already be familiar with our dental staff wearing personal protection equipment and perhaps aware of the precautions that we normal take to safeguard against cross-infection. We will build on these existing precautions and also ask that you take some additional steps to help protect all of us when you visit us for a dental procedure.
We request any patients who are displaying any symptoms of COVID- 19 not to attend the practice.
COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
- fever
- dry cough
- tiredness
Less common symptoms:
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- diarrhoea
- conjunctivitis
- headaches
- loss of taste or smell
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- chest pain or pressure
- loss of speech or movement
Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility. People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.
Steps taken within the practice to minimize the spread of the virus
- Adequate personal protection equipment issued to staff
- Appointments will be staggered and patients will only be admitted at their appointed time to maintain social distances
- No waiting is permitted in the reception area
- Toilets are unavailable until further notice
- HEPA filtration and more frequent air change have been arranged
- Non-essential items have been removed from surgeries and waiting areas
- Staff breaks are staggered
- Patients may be asked to rinse with 1% hydrogen peroxide rinse for procedures that may generate aerosols
- More vulnerable patients will be offered patients at the start of the day
- Patients will be offered hand sanitization
- Hand hygiene for patients on entering and exiting premises
- Forehead thermometers may be used to check patient temperature on arriving at the practice
- perspex screens have been installed in reception
- we ask that patients make payments through contactless means only
- Appointments will only be made in advance over the phone, online or after completion of a procedure
Please let us know if you have any concerns or queries about coming for dental treatment. Thank you for your continued support.
Written by Claire Rath
Claire has been providing advanced aesthetic dentistry at Smiles & More since 2008.
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