Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the restrictions that have been imposed by the Government in order to fight this pandemic, we’ve been operating on an emergency basis since lockdown began. As a result, the best way to get in touch with us at present is by calling 07387 778 751 and seeking advice from our dental practice and Drs Neel and Natasha Shukla directly.
We see this service as a way of allowing all of our wonderful patients the opportunity to discuss any concerns or issues they may have about their oral health. During this unprecedented time, we like to think this has presented you all with a crucial form of support and we’ve been more than happy to talk through all of your problems and worries over the phone.
In terms of dental emergencies, we have been able to offer some form of intervention to those patients who require it. But with lockdown restrictions not yet lifted, although there have been encouraging signs that these will soon be eased, how do you know if you need to seek urgent dental assistance?
Dental Emergencies
Put simply, our governing bodies define a dental emergency as anyone who is suffering from facial swelling, any facial or dental trauma or pain that lasts for more than 48 hours that cannot be controlled with painkillers. Here at Yew Tree Dental Care & Implant Centre, we believe that a dental emergency encompasses a lot more than that; for instance a lost crown, a broken tooth, some sensitivity or bleeding gums.
As these are only a few examples, it is best to give us a call if you are uncertain about what you are experiencing and we will be there to help in any way we possibly can.
How We Can Help
As we understand that the line between needing urgent dental treatment and having to remain home can be a thin one, we also thought we’d share how we’ve been able to help patients get the care and support they need during lockdown. Adhering to social distancing, we’ve provided temporary filling material to patients with broken teeth and been able to supply patients suffering from abscesses with antibiotics on the same day where possible to prevent them having to travel. We’ve also given advice and instruction to patients on how to recement their own crowns back in place until we can once again provide them with the appropriate dental attention.
As previously mentioned, we’ve also been providing telephone advice and reassurance to patients with non-urgent dental concerns, and following up each and every phone call after a week to make sure everything is proceeding as expected.
Next Steps
With the Government stating that we have moved past the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak, we hope that we can get back to running our surgery as normal as soon as we can. As things are ever-changing, we will provide you all with a detailed update when we know more about how and when these restrictions will be eased. We have tentative plans to re-open our doors gradually to allow us to catch up urgent treatments and also non-urgent appointments such as dental examinations and hygiene visits, but we will make you all aware of this when we have a concrete cause of action in place.
For now, we will continue to provide the best service we can in this challenging climate and urge you to get in contact with us to discuss any oral health issue, big or small. Call us today on 07387 778 751 where Drs Neel and Natasha Shukla are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take care, and we hope to see you all soon.