FOR ALL APPOINTMENTS: Please confirm that in the last 14 days prior to your scheduled appointment:· You have not had symptoms of a cough, cold, flu, loss of taste, or any other symptoms of coronavirus or a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus· You have not been in contact with a suspected individual with suspected/confirmed coronavirus· You have not been abroad· You have not in contact with anyone who has been abroad· You have not been self-isolating· Please contact us if you are unsure· Please contact us if you have answered yes to any of the above. It is likely that we’ll have to reschedule your appointment.
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Prevention of coronavirus· The safety of our staff, patients and the public is paramount during this COVID19 pandemic. · The Government and Department of Health have issued specific guidance for dentists in the way which we are to operate. · A lot of behind the scenes stuff has occurred to optimise cross-infection control at our clinic. This includes revising certain policies and vigorous staff training. We have been working hard during lockdown to implement these safe changes. · Essentially, we are to follow social distancing measures and staged appointments for our patients. · Certain treatments may have to be deferred until we receive further guidance from the Department of Health. · These are unprecedented times- all dentists are following Government guidance into order to reduce the risk of coronavirus. · The way your appointments are made will change for the time being. · We will still maintain our high standards of dental care as we have done in the past. |
Booking and consultation fees· If you are a new patient: £65 payment is required over the phone to book your consultation or you can book online via the booking system www.hertsdental.co.uk/online-booking · If you are an existing patient: Consultation fee to see the dentist is £15 | £10 per x-ray. · We are starting to see patients from 8th June 2020. We may not be able to offer you an appointment on/around 8th June. · Allow extra time for all your dental appointments. This is because (1) social distancing must be observed (2) extra disinfection protocols are in place throughout the entire premises |
Cost-effective and affordable dental care· You will continue to receive the same services prior to COVID19. · You will receive a check-up, an explanation of your problem and your treatment options will be discussed. · You will receive a cost-effective solution. This is done in the form of minimally invasive and preventative dentistry. · It doesn’t mean the most-expensive option is the best solution- you will receive simple choices so that you can make an informed decision. · You can choose to pay monthly, with a 0% interest-free finance option. · You can choose the sedation option if you are of nervous disposition. |
Treatment costsAfter we have carried out your consultation an assessment, we will offer you a cost-effective treatment package, so that you are not over-paying for individual treatment sessions. This is because an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) is now a lengthy process. We cannot simply pick up the drill and place a filling or recement your crown. |
Which treatments may be carried out on my consultation/assessment/check-up visit? (new and existing patients)· Examination of the oral cavity / check-up · A discussion of your treatment options and planning your dental health care plan · X-rays · Investigations · Antibiotic prescription · Minor treatment which does not general aerosol (dental spray) · Emergency treatment which does not general aerosol (dental spray) · See below what Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) means · No check-up and teeth cleaning allowed for the time being |
Aerosol Generating Procedure = AGP· Why all this fuss? · An AGP produces aerosol water droplets (water spray). · AGP is higher risk to carry viruses and bacteria. · What causes water droplets to be produced? The following, but not limited to the dental drill, ultrasonic teeth cleaning, dental 3-in-1 spray, polishing teeth, bicarbonate cleaning. · After an AGP procedure, the room is evacuated and the nurse can only enter after a fallow period to commence disinfection of the clinic. This is to allow the aerosol droplets from the dental drill to settle before the nurse starts to disinfect the clinic. · Examples of AGP include, but not limited to fillings, teeth cleaning, crown preparation, crown cement (maybe non-AGP), surgical tooth extraction, root canal, implant placement, some implant restorative procedures. · We will book you a specific session if you require an AGP. · A non-AGP may be carried out on the same visit as your consultation, but the treatment we can provide is strictly limited. · Examples of non-AGP: dental consultation, x-rays, CT scan, some implant restorative procedures, simple extractions · The dentist can only advise if your treatment is going to be an AGP or non AGP after your dental condition has been assessed. |
Emergency treatments· We prioritise emergency dental care · The dentist can only advise if your treatment is going to be an AGP or non AGP after your dental condition has been assessed. · A non-AGP may be carried out on the same visit as your consultation, but the treatment we can provide is strictly limited. Examples of non-AGP treatment: simple dental extraction, placing a temporary filling in without using dental spray, simple wisdom tooth gum disinfection. · Examples of an AGP is a surgical extraction, complex crown/bridge recement, white filling. |
Teeth cleaning and gum disease treatment· Currently, we are not offering a “check-up and clean appointment” in the same visit. · We are only offering teeth cleaning after you have had your consultation. Teeth cleaning will be carried out in a separate visit. · The cost of teeth cleaning will be discussed, as this an AGP. |
When you attend· Please attend 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment and ring the doorbell. · Please be prepared to wait outside until it is safe for you to enter. Have the appropriate clothing/umbrella, etc. · We are only letting in a select number of people into the building to observe social distancing measures. · Before entering our premises, you will be screened with a remote electronic thermometer. You will only be allowed to enter if it is within the normal temperature range. · You will be given an alcoholic hand rub for disinfection. If you cannot use the hand rub, please let us know and we will escort you to wash your hands with an anti-microbial handwash. · Be prepared to fill out a medical history questionnaire. · Please let us know if you need to use the toilet. There may be a wait for this as washrooms have to be thoroughly disinfectant after each use. · We will escort you to the appropriate room. |
When you enter the dentist’s room· The dentist will then see you. · You will place your belongings into a disinfected plastic box. This box will always be by your side. Do not hang coats on to the door hooks. · When you sit in the dental chair, you will be given a peroxide mouthwash. Please let us know if you have an allergy to peroxide mouthwash and you will be given an alternative antimicrobial mouthwash. · After your consultation and discussion of your options, you will be issued with a plan of treatment and a financial estimate. · You will be given an alcoholic hand rub (or wash your hands if you’re allergic to the alcoholic hand rub) before you leave the clinic. · If you decide to go ahead with treatment, you more than likely will need to book a further appointment. · The cost of your treatment can only be confirmed after your consultation. · You pay for your treatment in advance before your next appointment. |
Is it safe to come to the dentist?Our existing patients already know how clean our clinic already was pre-COVID, as we went above and beyond standard cross infection protocol to disinfect the door handles, give patients an alcoholic hand rub, etc. The COVID19 era has seen a big change in the way businesses operate. As dental clinics, not only do we have to observe social distancing measures, we have to take disinfection to a whole new level. · One measure involves wearing single-use PPE (“spacesuits”) for AGPs. We routinely wore these “spacesuits” for surgical dentistry procedures like implants and surgical extractions, but now we have to use them for all AGPs. · This means it takes more time to disinfect a clinic after an AGP. · We also need to allow a fallow time for aerosols to settle before the nurse can disinfect the surgery. · We will still maintain our strict standard cross-infection protocol procedure, but with some enhanced modifications. The dental clinic is a super clean environment. We have had to put extra procedures and protocols in place to significantly minimise the risk of any infection, including COVID19. As well as protecting our patients and the public, we also have to protect ourselves and our lovely caring staff as we are in the same environment day in and day out. But we also ask our patients to follow our instructions prior to their appointment and during their time at our clinic. We realise this these are unprecedented times, but with your support we will get through this pandemic era to once again a time of normality. Please follow our instructions on social distancing and pre-appointment self-screening. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your house and coming to the dentist, please postpone your dental care until you feel the time is right for you. Remember, we are only a phone call or email away to offer support to our existing patients 🙂 |
Standard of careCOVID or no COVID pandemic, we will be providing the same high level of dentistry before the pandemic issue arose. The only difference you may notice is the length of appointment time and you will see your dental team ready in a “spacesuit” style dental protective clothing. |
Appointment rescheduling/cancellation· Please give us 24 hours notice by phone/voicemail/text/email if you need to cancel to reschedule your appointment. · We are accommodating a large number of patients and running a tightly scheduled appointment diary. · There is a 4-8 week appointment reschedule time at present. · Cancellation/rescheduling 2x with less than 24 hours notice will result in the loss of your deposit and deregistration from our clinic |