I suspect we are all looking forward to a step in the right direction when the Prime Minister speaks on Sunday, and hope that we can move a step closer to what we knew as normality! Fingers crossed there is light at the end of this tunnel for us all.
There will certainly be some sort of "new normality" in dentistry. While we have been told to close our doors, please rest assured that we have not been sitting idly by waiting for the days to pass.
We have been listening to the experts via webinars, and doing a lot of reading with regard to this virus, in an attempt to stay up to date with the information that is available. While many things are uncertain, what we know for sure is that even before Covid-19, dentistry in general had among the best infection control guidelines available. The disinfection and cross contamination controls have always been of a very high standard, even better than in many a hospital setting. Thank you to all our patients who pointed this out to us before lockdown! I have lost count of the number of people who came in saying how this was probably one of the least infected environments they could be going to!
Moving forward, it will definitely be some time before we will be able to return to being fully operational again. There will probably be some sort of phased return to work, and as patients you will probably see enhanced infection control measures in place. You may be asked to attend the surgery unaccompanied, and only to enter at your appointed time. We are looking into having screens at reception, and have digital thermometers arriving any day soon. A lot of this is guesswork, but as always the safety of you, our patients, and of the dental team is paramount. We will continue to provide the safe, effective treatment that you know and trust from us.
Many countries across the globe have not had the wholesale closure of practices as we have had here in the UK. Their dentsts have been able to continue seeing patients for emergencies at the very least, with some extra safeguards and protocols in place, and looking at the positives, there has been no reported higher incidence of Covid-19 among those dental teams when compared to the trends within the general population. That is not to say that there is no risk, but as ever, before we return, appropriate risk assessments, and protocols to mitigate the risks will be put in place.
Please be patient with us as we enter new ways of having to work, and in the meantime, stay safe, and stay at home.
The team at Ernevale House Dentistry.