COVID-19 Update: June 2020

Given the unprecedented situation in NI regarding Covid 19 we felt it was important to reassure all our patients that we are doing all we can within government limitations to keep you both safe and free of dental pain and to keep our staff healthy so we can continue to help you where possible. Please do not turn up without an appointment, all patients are to be triaged by phone only. Our opening hours at The Lena Turner Dental Practice are currently 9am to 4:30pm.

Phone no: 02892 699785

Dentistry in Northern Ireland is currently in phase 1 of re-starting. This means that No Routine Treatment is allowed and No Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) are allowed in our surgery. In other words, we are only allowed to carry out urgent treatment and we are not yet allowed to use drills or scalers. This puts us in the frustrating position of not being able to carry out fillings or clean teeth. If patients are in pain and require an AGP to gain relief we will still need to refer those patients to one of the Urgent Dental Centres. Lena has been working in these centres and will continue to do so. Referral to the Urgent Dental Centres is by phone from this surgery following assessment (triage).

Phone no: 02892699785.

Referral is only for the following conditions:

-Life threatening emergencies – airway restriction

-Trauma with facial laceration, dental avulsion

-Significant post-extraction bleeding that will not stop

-Acute and severe systemic illness from dental source

-Severe dental and facial pain

-Fractured tooth with pulpal exposure

-Dental condition exacerbating pre-existing medical/systemic condition

Triage:

Before any appointment we need to triage each patient by phone to make sure they are Covid free. (Fever, cough, sense of smell).

We shall take a full medical history and the patient will be informed about the limitations of treatment available at the surgery: no drills, no scaling. Only urgent treatment and no AGPs at this stage. If after triage we feel that a patient needs to be examined, they will find a visit to the surgery to be quite different to what they are used to.

On Arrival:

We kindly ask that patients go to the toilet prior to attending the surgery. Patients should ring the surgery on arrival as the door will be closed. We ask that where possible patients attend alone and carry no unnecessary coats or bags. On entry the patient shall sanitise their hands and then keep their hands in their pockets or fold their arms to avoid touching any surfaces. The patient shall then be escorted to the surgery by a member of staff wearing gloves and mask.

Treatment:

Only urgent cases and no AGP in this phase.

Examination (prior to referral), Antibiotic prescription, Antibiotic dressing of gums, X Rays, Temporary Fillings (no drilling allowed), Extraction (no drilling allowed), Root fillings (only if access available without drilling).

Exit:

After treatment patient to avoid rinsing if possible. To avoid touching surfaces. To pay by contactless method if possible or by card. No cash please. Cheques, only if no alternative.

We appreciate that this is a worrying time for us all. Obviously the staff of the Lena Turner Dental Practice wish every one of our valued patients good health and strength in the months ahead and we will do our absolute best to help with any dental problems but, as I said, we are very limited in what we can do, for obvious reasons.

Sincerely, please look after yourselves and stay isolated as much as possible. Keep up to date with Government advice and follow it. Health permitting, I will do my best to update this website as frequently as is needed.

Please see advice below for dealing with dental problems during this pandemic.

Stay Safe,

Lena