Starting Tuesday, 09 June 2020

Under the current Alert Level 1, we can resume all routine dental care for low-risk patients.
The joint guideline issued by the Ministry of Health and Dental Council outlines specific processes to ensure that it is safe for dental care under Alert Level 1.

A key element of the guideline is the continual requirement for patient screening. During this time, we will continue to ask that all patients complete our Covid-19 triage questionnaire before arriving for their scheduled appointment. This will help us assess individual risk levels and proceed with the adequate steps as outlined in the guidelines.

We continue to implement the most comprehensive level of cross-infection protocols as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Dental Council. Together these will help ensure that we continue to have the safest environment possible during this critical time of Covid-19 containment.

Is there anything different?

Yes, as Healthcare providers we are required to follow strict guidelines as released by the Ministry of Health and the Dental Council.
‍
Included is the continual requirement to triage every patient before their scheduled appointments to assess different risk-levels before treatment.

We also ask that everyone arriving at our premises continue to apply personal hygiene measures including hand-washing on arrival.

I had an appointment booked pre-lockdown, what happened to it?

If you had an appointment booked and they fell within Alert Level 3 and 4 periods, please note that we have been working hard to re-accommodate these across the next month. Someone from our team will contact you with new dates. However, if you haven't heard from us yet, do give us a follow up call.

We also anticipate a roll-on effect on appointment availability across the coming months, this can impact how quickly we'll be able to accommodate your new appointment. We thank you for your understanding and for working with us under these unprecedented circumstances.

What should I do if I have an emergency?

As always you can contact us by sending us either an email, a message via our website or by calling the practice at 03 477 4829.

We continue to discourage walk-ins as we try to minimize the volume of people at our waiting areas during this time.

What is Dunedin Dental doing to ensure my safety during upcoming emergency appointments?

We will continue to screen all patients by phone prior to booking appointments.

We continue to require that all patients complete our online Covid-19 risk assessment triage questionnaire before arriving for their scheduled appointment.

We continue to enforce that everyone are keeping with strict hand hygiene measures upon arrival.

We continue to ensure that our clinicians and team are well and asking them to stay at home if they are feeling unwell.

We have applied additional and more frequent cleaning measures across our common areas using medical grade disinfectant.

We are limiting people volume at the waiting room by asking those in attendance to come unaccompanied.

We continue to keep up-to-date with the latest advice from the Ministry of Health and the Dental Council and revising our response protocols with their most current recommendations.

Together we will keep New Zealand safe.

What can I do to keep safe during this time?

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based rub or wash them with soap and water. Hand washing is never too much and can help kill viruses that may be on your hands from touching contaminated surfaces.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.

Practice respiratory hygiene

Droplets spread viruses. Make sure you continue to follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Practice social distancing during essential outings

Maintain at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The World Health Organisation(WHO) and our Ministry of Health (MOH) have identified the common symptoms of COVID-19 as:

- High Temperature (at least 38C)
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough
- Tiredness
- Some patients may also have aches and pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhoea.
‍
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. They are also present in other much more common illnesses, such as cold, flu and in the case of shortness of breath, possible pneumonia, which would require immediate medical attention.

The current assessment from the World Health Organization suggests these symptoms would show up after 2-10 days of having COVID-19.

If you have any of these symptoms and have recently been overseas or have had close contact with someone who has been suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 cases; or who has recently traveled overseas, please call the Healthline immediately on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor for further instructions.

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) Announcement