COVID-19 Information

Making an Appointment – ALL VISITS TO THE PRACTICE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

1. Please do this using the telephone (not through e-mail) as we need to talk to each patient individually, asking additional health questions before we make the appointment. This will also help to reduce the number of visits you may have to make to the practice.
2. Prior to your appointment, you may receive a call from your dentist or the treatment co-ordinator to plan and prepare what they will be doing at that appointment; this will enable us to ensure we have allowed enough time to complete any treatment you may need.
3. Instead of a text message reminder 2 days before your appointment, we will now call you to check your status in terms of COVID19 and also to advise you of the procedure when you arrive for your appointment (in order to ensure safe social distancing for everyone). This will include waiting in your car until your  appointment time. We will call you on your mobile when the Dentist is ready.
4. Any forms that need completing prior to your appointment will be e-mailed; this will enable you to complete them safely at home before arrival, return them back to us via e-mail thus reducing the amount of contact in the practice.
5. If you are shielding or consider yourself to be vulnerable, we would be happy to undertake a telephone consultation (this would form part of your membership). Or we can offer you an appointment in protected time slot.

Please note that our Courtesy Car service is currently suspended

Your Arrival at the Practice

Reception will look different as the staff will be behind sneeze guards. We will still welcome you with a big smile as we will be delighted to see you back, but I’m afraid no handshakes or hugs!

1. As mentioned above, you will be asked to wait in the car prior to your appointment. Please minimise  your outer clothing and bags as these will have to remain downstairs whilst you are in surgery. We cannot take any responsibility for these items.
2. We politely request that you do not bring anyone else with you to the appointment unless absolutely necessary. Of course, all children under 16 years old will need to be accompanied by one adult.
3. You will be asked again about your current COVID19 status and we will take your temperature using a digital infrared thermometer. If you show any symptoms we will ask you to re-book your appointment.
4. You will be asked to wash or sanitise your hands before going into surgery.
5. The lounge will temporarily look bare without magazines, newspapers or refreshments. Apologies in advance!
6. We ask that all patients adhere to social distancing whilst they are at the practice.
7. If you wish to wear your own face covering whilst you are in the practice, other than when you are being treated, you are most welcome to do so. We have some face masks available if required.

OUR TOILET AND BABY CHANGING FACILITIES ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED

Going Into Surgery

1. When you go into the surgery the team will look different. They will be dressed in appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as per the guidelines (there will be differences depending on the type of appointment).  Please remember the equipment is for yours and their safety.
2. You may be asked to rinse your mouth with a mouthwash prior to the dentist starting their exam.
3. At the present time we need to minimise our Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGP’s); these include drilling and scaling. This will be determined by guidelines.
4. When we are allowed to carryout AGP’s we will be use the ‘rubber dam technique’ where possible to give you more protection.
5. When you have a gum therapy appointment this will be carried out using hand scalers only (not the ultrasonic scaler as this an AGP).
6. For treatments other than your routine dental health assessments or gum therapy (both of which are included in your membership) there will be a surcharge for the cost of the additional PPE incurred. The specific charge will be discussed with you on the telephone prior to you visiting the practice.  It will be detailed on your treatment plan (and will be the difference of the additional PPE and costs from pre and post COVID19). We really apologise for passing on this cost but to allow us to continue to operate we need to do this. The practice is already factoring in the extra downtime needed for cleaning the surgeries in between patients. Please be assured that as soon as the PPE requirements go back to normal, we will not be passing costs on to you.

Immediately After Treatment

1. When your appointment is complete you will be taken back to reception.
2. If you have an account to pay we would request you use a card where possible.
3. If you have any treatment plans or consent forms to sign, we will e-mail them to you. This will again minimise contact points within the surgery.
4. We will make any further appointment that you need.

Post Treatment

We politely request that if you have any COVID19 symptoms or test positive within 2 weeks of your appointment that you notify the practice so we can protect our team and, in turn, other patients.

We hope that you understand the need for these measures and will work in partnership with us; adhering to the new protocols will help us to ensure that everyone remains safe and well.

Team El-Nashar!

We are still all the same beneath the disguise!