Cleanliness & Hygiene

Cleanliness and hygiene

The subject of cleanliness and hygiene is dear to us, though generally not one we bring up at dinner parties. So here we have the opportunity to wax lyrical about our Cross Infection Policy. You can also download a PDF file below.

The surgery

All surfaces are cleaned with special single-use disinfectant wipes. This includes the countertops, the patient chair, and the dentist’s overhead light. A fresh set of sterilised instruments is unpacked and set out for each patient.

Patient, dentist and nurse

Our dentists and nurses wear uniforms, face masks, gloves and eye protection in the surgery. All of these are part of keeping things clean, hygienic and safe. Before welcoming each patient into the surgery the dentist and nurse will use a disinfectant hand rub then put on a new pair of gloves. We will give you a new bib to protect your clothing, and special ‘sunglasses’ to protect your eyes.

Instruments

Some of our instruments are single-use, like drill pieces and needles; these are disposed of in special containers, then taken away to be incinerated. Reusable instruments, like mirrors and tweezers, are cleaned and sterilised as follows:

First they are placed in an enzyme solution to dissolve debris.
They are then transferred to an ultrasonic cleaner, which uses vibrations (ultrasound) to remove any remaining debris.
The instruments are then inspected under magnification to ensure they are clean.
Once this is confirmed, they are placed in an autoclave, which sterilises the instruments under pressure and in a vacuum at a temperature of 134°C.
Finally, the sterilized instruments are sealed in a bag and labelled.

Our machines are regularly checked and validated to ensure they are working effectively.

Contagion

For safety reasons we cannot treat patients while they have a cold sore (herpes simplex virus). They are highly contagious and can be easily passed from person to person by close direct contact. Cold sores are at their most contagious when they burst, and remain so until they are completely healed. So if you have a cold sore, play it safe and call us to reschedule your appointment.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cleanliness and hygiene

The surgery

Patient, dentist and nurse

Instruments

Contagion

Opening Hours