Information for our Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear patients,
We hope that you are staying safe and managing to stay healthy during this third wave of COVID-19. The Government has announced it will remove Coronavirus restrictions on 19 July 2021 but in relation to health and social care settings "Health and care settings will continue to maintain appropriate infection prevention and control processes as necessary".
This means that our protocols will remain unchanged until we are advised otherwise - we will still require you to wear a mask when on site and comply with our social distancing rules (see below for this guidance). We still require you to phone the practice for all queries, rather than walk in. We are carrying out almost the full range of treatments and examinations but we do still prioritise patients with high need or those who require emergency care.
We understand that, at times, this could be frustrating for our patients but we want you to know that your patience is greatly appreciated and that the decisions we make are to ensure you are all kept safe. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our surgery. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.
Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
We would like to reassure you that we are still operating during our usual surgery hours and if you require an appointment for any reason then please call us on 01403 732016. If you require assistance outside of surgery hours then please still call the surgery as we leave an up-to-date number for the emergency dental service on our answer machine.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
When the time comes, you may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- The rules around COVID-19 have been relaxd so it is up to you whether you want to wear a face mask. We are still taking precautions to protect our patients and to ensure your safety.
How you can help:
- If you show symptoms of COVID prior to your appointment booking, you should contact the practice by phone
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY MOUTH
In the meantime, we wish to give you some useful tips* to keep your mouth healthy and in good condition, to minimise your risk for unwanted dental problems.
1. Brush twice daily (last thing at night and on at least one other occasion) with a fluoride toothpaste containing a minimum of 1350ppm of fluoride. Spit out after brushing but do not rinse the toothpaste off so that the fluoride concentration is maintained on your teeth.
2. If you are a known ‘high risk’ patient for tooth decay, then use a daily fluoride mouth-rinse at a time separate to brushing. Rinse with 10ml for 1 minute then spit out and do not wash away with water.
3. Reduce the frequency (how often) and amount (how much) of sugary foods and drinks and avoid sugary foods and drinks at bedtime.
4. If you are a patient at a high risk of periodontal disease (gum disease) then you must maintain your daily regime of interdental cleaning with brushes and/or floss.
5. Do not Smoke. If you do smoke then try to quit or cut down as much as possible. Smoking puts you at a higher risk of periodontal (gum disease) and mouth cancer.
6. If you have an ulcer which has not healed within two weeks the please call the practice so that we can talk to you and make the correct arrangements.
If you can take these small measures to maintain a healthy mouth at home, then it will be beneficial for you and help to reduce your risk to oral diseases such as dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease (gum disease) and oral cancer.
We wish you all the best and hope to see you as soon as we can!
*Tips based on guidelines from Delivering Better Oral Health (Public Health England, 2014