Keeping us all safe
There is of course constant discussion and at present no fixed time when life will return to “normal” let alone dentistry.
None the less we have been preparing the best we can. There are no regulations at present but we are using the protocols put in place by the newly set up Urgent Care Centres as our guide. The advice is constantly changing and we are trying to keep up. This is what we are doing to try and keep us all safe.
PPE
This is a ”word” we now hear nearly as often as our own name. Personal Protective Equipment. We are not sure exactly what specification of kit we will need for each procedure but be reassured we will put in place the what needed to safely treat you in each eventuality. We have invested in gowns, masks, hats and visors that we will have in place ready for our return to work. We may look a little different from the outside but underneath it all we will still be caring for you in the same way; ready to listen and provide the best and most appropriate dentistry.
Appointment scheduling and patient journey
Whilst the new beginning date is unconfirmed and we don’t know at what stage of recovery from the pandemic we will be in when we return to work we have assumed social distancing will still be in place and stringent measures will still exist regarding potential transmission of the virus.
Before your appointment. We will schedule a short call or email with you or better still consult with you via a virtual consultation or video call in advance of your appointment. Whichever you prefer. This will be an opportunity for you to share directly with your dentist or their assistant any problems or concerns you have dentally or indeed regarding visiting the practice. We will check you have been well and review all your medical history and ask you to complete any administration prior to your visit.
We will endeavour to carry out your necessary care in as few visits to us as possible. This will reduce your need to visit us multiple times and reduce the strain on us with regards to additional PPE and surgery capacity. As we will require longer time between appointments to allow for the extra measures this virus will require of us we will, inevitably, be limited in how many appointments we can accommodate each day.
We might ask you to alter your appointment times slightly to reduce then number of patients starting and finishing appointments at the same time. We hope you will understand. This may even help with car park availability.
By staggering your appointments this way we will limit the number of people in the building at any one time; this will help us respect any social distancing rules that are likely to remain in place. For our most vulnerable patients we may ask you to wait in your car until we are ready to bring you straight to the treatment room. We will check your temperature as a guide to your health on entering the building. We will ask you to wash your hands with the provided wipes or sanitiser from one of our new hand sanitiser units.
In the treatment room your practitioner and their nurse will be in the appropriate PPE which may well be gown, mask, visor, protective hat and gloves. This may change depending on procedure. We are planning to be ready for anything. All procedures will be carried out in the normal way with rubber dam and suction as normal. All practitioners will work with assistants. The assistant will have the same level of PPE as the operator.
The room will also have the benefit of clean, filtered air courtesy of our new air purifiers soon to arrive at the practice.
Payment can be taken, preferably by card, at the reception desk. For ease and less interaction during social distancing it may suit you to pay for your treatment prior to the appointment by bank transfer or over the phone, if the final amount can be planned before the visit. This can be discussed at your pre-appointment.
We will escort you from the practice in the usual manner and will carry out courtesy calls and many reviews by phone, virtual consult or video call, as appropriate. Where possible we hope to reduce the need to return to the practice for follow up unless absolute necessary.
None of these potential changes will prevent us doing what we do best: providing quality dental care and service to you. We believe we might even find that some of these digital and virtual methods may enhance your experience and help us communicate better with one another.
If you have any questions or queries please contact us by email info@stonerock.co.uk or on our Facebook or Instagram pages. If you wish to set up a virtual consultation or video call please email us and we can schedule one for you.
