OUR TEAM IS WORKING VERY HARD TO GET VITASMILE READY TO SEE PATIENTS AGAIN.
THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WILL CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME AS NEW GUIDANCE IS RECEIVED.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEND FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
Before resuming dental services for our patients, we conducted a full risk assessment of the practice, in order to safeguard the well-being of our patients and staff.
We do not want patients to be anxious when they attend VITASMILE and although there will be some changes to the way in which we operate over the next few weeks and months, these are in place to protect your safety and we very much appreciate your co-operation.
New Safety Procedures
We have put in place a whole series of safety measures for your protection, these include:
- New ‘one-way’ system
- Hand sanitizer at every entry and exit point
- Floor markings to indicate 2m distance
- Perspex screen at reception
- PPE for all clinical staff
- Doors and windows will be open wherever possible to increase ventilation
- Card payments wherever possible
In accordance with latest FGDP (Faculty of General Dental Practitioners) guidance, we will be limiting the numbers of patients in the practice at any one time and have put in place specific arrival and departure procedures, which are detailed below. Time in surgery is likely to take longer than previously and ‘fallow’ time between patients will be increased to allow full decontamination of each room to take place.
What you need to know
Before you arrive
We are currently seeing patients according to need in the following order of priority; patients in pain, vulnerable patients and patients who are in the middle of treatment (see ‘In the surgery’ below). We hope to re-introduce elective treatments in due course and more information will be available on this website when these treatments are available.
If you do not have an appointment, please do not attend the practice. If you are in pain, please call the practice on 0203 880 9877. Our reception team is very busy so please be patient.
Before attending, you will receive a call from a member of our reception team who will go through your medical history. You will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, this screening process is vital to protect the welfare of all so once again please be as co-operative as possible. If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 you must not attend for your appointment, please phone to let us know.
Patients will be asked to pay for treatment prior to coming in the practice by telephone. Where this is not available, contactless payment is requested on arrival.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back.
- New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. (If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).
- Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things taste or smell different from normal.
With the exception of children or adults in need of support we request that patients attend the practice alone.
When you arrive
We are asking patients to arrive at the practice no more than 5 minutes before their appointment time. If possible, we would appreciate you waiting in your car in the car park. If you have arrived on foot or by public transport there will be chairs available in the car park.
We have introduced a one-way system to reduce the chance of patients crossing each other paths and you will be asked to wear a mask and gloves, which will be supplied if necessary.
Please use the toilet at home before attending the practice as our toilet facility is temporarily closed
The reception desk has had a Perspex screen erected and receptionists will be wearing face masks. You will be called when your dentist is ready to see you.
In the surgery
The surgery will be fully decontaminated between patients, so you can be sure that all processes have been applied before you enter the surgery. The clinical team will be wearing full PPE and you will be asked to wear glasses (as usual). We are currently treating patients in 3 main groups:
- Patients in pain – our first job is to reduce or eliminate dental pain. There may be some procedures that we are not able to perform currently, but we will do our utmost to provide treatment that enables you to continue pain-free until a more permanent solution can be provided.
- Vulnerable patients – patients who have been identified as vulnerable due to health, disability or shielding, should phone the practice to arrange an appointment on 01482 565488. Patients in this group will be seen as quickly as possible and where able we will keep them separate from others. Please note, accompanying escorts will not be allowed into the surgery.
- Patients mid-treatment – if you are in the middle of a course of treatment which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 lockdown we will contact you as soon as possible to complete your treatment. If we are unable to complete treatment as initially recommended, we will provide an interim solution until such time that treatment can be completed as per the original treatment plan.
Leaving the practice
Once you have seen the dentist, you will be escorted back to the exit. Further appointments, if necessary, can be arranged at this point. Patients will be asked to pay for treatment prior to coming in the practice by telephone, where this is not available, contactless payment is requested. Our payment terminals are disinfected after each transaction.
Hand sanitiser is available at entrance and we encourage patients to use this as you leave.
All patients will be expected to contact us if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of their appointment.
Hygiene appointments
We are not currently offering hygiene appointments at the practice but will re-introduce these as soon as is practicable. All patients should continue to follow a regular oral hygiene routine at home to protect the health of your teeth and gums.