Gentle Dental is open offering a full range of services and accepting new clients. Read more

 

Online Covid Policy

Gentle Dental is fully open, offering a full range of services and we are accepting new clients.

As the country is returning to normal so too are some of our policies and procedures. Outlined below is what you can expect at your visit with us.

Client and staff safety is of paramount importance at Gentle Dental and we want our clinic to remain a safe place for all. With this in mind we have carefully considered the advice given by the Government and our many regulatory bodies; the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the General Dental Council (GDC), the Office of the Chief Dental Officer (OCDO), PHE England and other dental advisory bodies such as the Facility of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and the British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD). Having taken the advice and guidance form all of these bodies into consideration there are various precautionary measures that we have introduced. This is a working document and so, as the guidance changes, we will update this policy.

What to expect

Symptoms – Please be assured that all of the Gentle Dental team will take the necessary steps (self-isolating etc) advised by the Government if they themselves present with any of the COVID-19 symptoms. We ask that if you show signs of the virus that you do the same and any appointments will be rescheduled.

  • As restrictions have eased so have some of our procedures. Where possible the non-clinical team keep a social distance of 1-2 meters. However now that you can meet up to 5 other households indoors, we have relaxed this a little and the team may not always wear a mask when seated close to each other to work. Generally, there is still a 1-meter distance. When moving around the communal areas of the practice, the reception, lounge and hallways al team members wear masks much as you do when in a hospitality setting. Obviously 1-2 meters is not possible when providing treatment so appropriate PPE is worn in the treatment rooms.

Cleaning – at Gentle Dental we have always maintained a high level of cleanliness. During this time we have stepped up our regime with extra attention being paid to ensure any surfaces that may hold on to the virus (such as toilets, door handles, seats, work surfaces etc) and these are regularly disinfected.  We use the same product around the building that is used in the treatment rooms ensuring a very high level of disinfection.

Consultation – Client satisfaction is a priority at Gentle Dental and in order to deliver a continuing high level of service we have altered the way in which we provide some services.  We now provide virtual consultations to assess and communicate remotely with clients both new and existing reducing the number of visits clients need to make to the clinic.

4 working days before your appointment

The reception team will email you We will also forward any paperwork that is required for your appointment such as a medical history update or a treatment consent form along with the benefits and risks of treatment.  It would be helpful if you can sign and return these documents before your appointment. This reduces your contacts with people and surfaces while at Gentle Dental providing a safer environment for everyone.

When you attend the reception team will briefly ask some questions – outlined below- while showing you to the lounge:

  • Have you been diagnosed with Coronavirus in past 10 days?
  • Are you having shortness of breath or other difficulties breathing?
  • Have you had a new continuous cough in the last 10 days?
  • Do you have any other flu-like symptoms, such as upset stomach, headache or fatigue?
  • Have you experienced a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell in the past 10 days?
  • Have you or anyone in your household been abroad in the past 14 days?
  • Have you been in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients in the last 14 days? Patients who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should consider postponing treatment

On the day of your appointment

The front door is locked and there is a video bell for access.

It is a glass door so we can normally see you however, sometimes we are finishing with a client at the desk or on the phone so this allows us to ensure a safe flow through the reception for everyone.

Personal belongings

Coats, hats, brollies etc can be hung in the reception cupboard so you are not having to carry lots of bits around the practice with you. Handbags, backpacks etc can also be placed in the cupboard. As the front door is locked and the team are on the reception desk everything is extremely safe. If you do want to keep items with you, we will place them in a plastic box outside the treatment room during treatment.

The lounge and relaxation

We do have a large lounge and should you arrive early for your appointment we can safely accommodate you whilst maintaining social distancing requirements.  While seated in the lounge face masks do not need to be worn and we can again offer a tea or a coffee while you wait. Magazines will be available from July so you can relax in calm space. We ask that you replace your face mask when moving around the communal areas of the practice much as you would in a hospitality setting.

During

During your appointment the dentist, hygienist and dental nurse will be wearing full PPE for any aerosol generating procedures which is most treatments. This consists of a full gown, face masks (FFP2/3) face shield and gloves. You will be invited to take a seat in the dental chair and asked to remove your mask.

When the treatment has finished the dentist/hygienist and nurse will remove their PPE. You will be asked to put on your mask, sanitise your hands and you will all leave the room together and the clinical team will return you to the reception area.

After

You will be guided to the reception and the clinical team with explain about your appointment and next steps.

Once the handover is complete the reception team member will book the next appointment and take payment for the appointment. We do accept cash and card payments.

The reception team will give you access to your personal belongings and show you out of the practice once you are ready. The door is locked so please stay at a distance of 1-2 metres until the team have unlocked the door and stepped away.

What we expect

We appreciate your patience, cooperation and support to allow us to be able to follow the current guidelines and we ask that you respect the processes that we are carrying out.

There may be times that we are unable to answer the phone or door immediately so we would appreciate it if you would please be patient with us.

We ask that you respect the 1-2 metre rule, keep social distance during your journey through the practice and wear your face mask at all times other than when you are seated in the lounge or in the dental chair.

We ask for 24 hours’ notice if you wish to alter your appointment however if you develop symptoms on the day of your appointment and it is less than 24 hours please notify us immediately and we will reschedule your appointment for you.

If you have any questions or need to get in touch,
 please call us on 01722 413311 or [email protected].

 

Reviews

More reviews