Patient Appointments
Booking Schedule
- Consider staggering patient appointments to minimise patient contact in the waiting room, or if there is a car park on site, ask patients to wait in their cars and call the practice upon arrival.
- Consider leaving 10 minutes between patient appointments to allow sufficient time between appointments to adequately clean the surgery and waiting room.
Prior to Arrival
- Call all patients the day prior to the planned appointment and ask if:
-
- They have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
- They feel unwell, including but not limited to symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath
- They have had any contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
-
- If the patient answers YES to any of these questions, advise them that you cannot provide routine dental care and reschedule the appointment for 14 days after their last travel overseas or contact with a COVID-19 case, or their symptoms have resolved.
- If using automated patient reminders, consider modifying text to include “If you have travelled recently or are experiencing any symptoms of cold/flu, please contact our rooms to discuss your appointment.”
- Upon confirming appointments, recommend that patients attend alone or only bring minimal additional accompanying persons being mindful of consent requirements and family commitments.
On Arrival
- If your practice has on-site parking, consider placing a sign on the practice door asking patients to wait in their car in the car park and call the practice upon arrival. Provide entry to the practice only immediately prior to their appointment or to use the bathroom. This allows patients to avoid waiting in the waiting room.
- If patients are waiting in their cars, pre-appointment questionnaires can be done over the phone.
- Upon arrival at the practice reception, have the patient use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and rub their hands for 20 seconds.
- Verbally confirm with the patient and note in their treatment record if:
-
- They have travelled overseas in the past 14 days 2
- They feel unwell, including but not limited to symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath
- They have had any contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days
-
- If the patient answers YES to any of these questions, advise them that you cannot provide routine dental care and reschedule the appointment for 14 days after their last travel overseas or contact with a COVID-19 case, or their symptoms have resolved.
- If the patient answers NO to all of these questions note ‘No COVID-19 risk factors’ in the treatment record.
Waiting Room
- Remove unnecessary items in the waiting room including toys and magazines.
- Adjust seating in waiting room to ensure social distancing of at least 1m between seats.
- Regularly wipe down surfaces with an appropriate agent, taking into account chemical compatibility with the intended surface and according to manufacturer’s instructions, including door handles, reception desks, phones.
- Any hospital-grade, TGA-listed disinfectant that is effective against Coronavirus is also suitable, if used according to manufacturer’s instructions
- Ensure there is access to tissues and alcohol-based hand rub, and a rubbish bin for used tissues.
- Place a cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene poster in a visible position
- It is recommended a small supply of masks are accessible, in the event a patient presents with respiratory symptoms they should be asked to fit the mask, asked to return home and advised to phone their GP or the dedicated hotline.
Hand Hygiene
- Remove jewellery and cover abrasions
- Wet hands with warm water, then apply soap or liquid soap
- Lather for 20 seconds o During the lather, pay particular attention to the backs of hands and fingers, fingernails, fingertips and the webbing between fingers.
- Rinse hands under running water
- Dry hands with clean paper towel
- A poster on correct hand washing and alcohol hand rub application techniques are available on the World Health Organisation website: https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/resources/posters/en/
Routine Patient Treatment
- Use rubber dam when appropriate to decrease possible exposure to infectious agents
- Use high-speed evacuation for dental procedures producing an aerosol
- Recommend that dental hygienists and oral health therapists are provided with a dental assistant to allow for use of high-speed evacuation
- Consider having patients aged 6+ years rinse with a suitable antimicrobial solution before treatment (e.g. 1% hydrogen peroxide solution, ozonated water, alcohol-free 0.2% chlorhexidine, alcohol free essential oil rinse (Listerine), povidone iodine mouthrinse)
- Consider delaying elective dental procedures where there is a greater likelihood of aerosol generation
- Consider using techniques that minimise aerosol generation (such as hand scalers instead of ultrasonic scalers)
Patients with Confirmed/Suspected COVID-19
- Dentists should postpone non-emergency or elective dental procedures until the patient is no longer considered infectious. Non-infectious status of the patient should be confirmed with the patients’ medical practitioner or the Public Health Officer. The Public Health Officer should be contacted on 1300 651 160 to confirm that the patient is no longer infectious
- If urgent dental treatment is necessary, dentists should call the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 (24 hours) to determine the appropriate management.
Note: All content and media on the Bacchus Marsh Dental House website and social media channels are created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.
Related Articles:
Holidays Are Great Until A Tooth Is Knocked Out – What To Do Amid The Panic
Always see your local dentist after any holiday accidents or injury involving the face. Get the emergency dental number listed prominently…
The ADA Pushes For Better Oral Care
Dr Stephen Liew, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) president is coming out firing in the push for better oral care for Australians…
In 2024: What Your Dentist Would Really Like You To Do Differently
Happy New Year Everyone! May you make 2024 your happiest dental year ever. Here’s what your dentist would like you to do differently…
Foods And Supplements That Help Slow or Prevent Gum Disease
Are there really foods and supplements that help slow or prevent gum disease? Dentists will point toward those foods to be avoided…
Great dental practice! Fong is a very experienced dentist acquiring all my dental needs and the nurse Emily helped my dentist experience a comfortable one. Highly recommend them.
Michael D.
Great dental practice! Fong is a very experienced dentist acquiring all my dental needs and the nurse Emily helped my dentist experience a comfortable one. Highly recommend them.
Michael D.
After hearing numerous excellent reports about this clinic, I decided to visit myself. I must say that it was a fantastic experience, even better than I expected! The clinic is bright and modern, the receptionists and nurses are friendly and help to put you at ease. The dentist is gentle, knowledgeable and explains everything so thoroughly!
I highly recommend this clinic!
Rebecca S.
