Current Updates

Measures within the dental practice

1. Online consultations:
   To reduce the number of your visits, we have implemented a new system to offer video and online consultations.

2. Electronic forms:
   All our forms are now digitally formatted to eliminate the contacts with pens and papers. The forms will be emailed to you before your appointment to review and sign on your own device.

3. Arrival notification:
   Our new software will enable you to notify us upon your arrival using your phone. A member of our team will open the door for you and help you to follow the new protocol. By doing that, you will not be touching any doors or handles.

4. Checking temperature:
   On entering the building, we will check your temperature using a digital touchless thermometer. Our team members will also have their temperature checked every day upon arrival.

5. Hand hygiene equipment and face masks:
   We have installed hand sanitiser station in the reception area. On arrival to our dental practice, you will be asked to clean your hands with the antibacterial gel and you will be given a mask to wear. This is to ensure the safety of our patients.

6. Personal belongings storage:
   We are providing storage boxes to store your belongings before your dental treatment. To limit the risk of any contamination, please bring as little belongings as possible.

7. Barrier screens:
   Our reception disk will look different as we have installed protective plastic screens. This is to ensure our staff and your safety when you are dealing with the reception team.

8. Social distancing:
   We are still the same friendly team but for your safety, social distancing will be enforced everywhere in the dental practice. Please don’t bring anyone else into the practice with you unless necessary.

9. Waiting area:
   We have adjusted our reception waiting area so that you can maintain safe social distancing. We have also removed all the magazines, newspapers and any items that might cause cross contamination.

10. Team PPE:
    Gosforth Dental Surgery team will be wearing appropriate PPE all the time to ensure your safety. This includes masks, gloves and face shields. Our PPE might make us appear more clinical but please be assured that we are still the same friendly team underneath. This is to ensure our safety – as well as yours.

11. Appointments time:
    We have spaced out the appointments to minimise the number of people at our practice at any one time. Upon arrival, you will be escorted directly to your treatment room. Please ensure you arrive on time.

12. Surgery decontamination time
    We will be following the most strict recommended infection control measures for the safety of our staff and patients. This includes leaving the surgery unoccupied for 1 hour after any active treatment. The deep cleaning process starts afterwards and includes decontamination of all the surfaces and floors. These deeper thorough cleans will be scheduled through the day to fit around the appointments.

13. Contactless payments
    The card machine terminal will be covered by plastic shields to prevent the risk of contamination. The plastic cover will be changed after every payment. Please also try to use the contactless payment whenever possible.

14. Arranging your next appointment:
    To minimise your waiting time in the reception area, our reception team will give you a call within 1 hour after leaving the dental practice to arrange the next appointments for you.

We’re here to keep you safe while we look after your oral health. Thank you for your support during this time.

Adjustments to your visit

When you book your appointment, our team will explain to you the few simple steps that you need to follow. The following is our guide to the new adjustments to your visit:

Before the day of your appointment

• An electronic medical history form will be emailed to you to fill and sign. Please complete the form at least 2 days before your appointment.
• Our reception team will call you to carry out a pre-visit questionnaire. This to make sure you do not have virus symptoms so that we can treat you safely.

Before you enter the practice

• We appreciate if you arrive on time to help us maintain social distancing by minimising the number of people at our practice at any time. We will stagger our appointments to allow for this.
• If possible, please attend alone and do not bring anyone else unless necessary.
• Please notify us upon arrival and a member of our team will open the door for you and help you to follow the new protocol. By doing that, you will not be touching any doors or handles.
• Try not to bring any unnecessary bags or belongings with you.
• We would recommend that you visit the bathroom before coming to Gosforth Dental Surgery. There will still be access to our patients’ bathrooms but please ask the receptionist before use. This is to make sure we know that the bathroom has been used as a deep cleaning regime will be performed after every use.

Inside the practice

• A member of our team will check your temperature using a digital contactless thermometer. If it is above the normal range, your appointment will be rescheduled for a later date.
• You will be provided by a storage box to store your belongings before your dental treatment.
• You will be asked to clean your hands with the antibacterial gel and you will be given a mask to wear.
• We have adjusted our reception waiting area so that you can maintain safe social distancing. We have also removed all the magazines, newspapers and any items that might cause cross contamination.
• Please try to maintain a 2 meters distance from the reception desk and avoid touching the barrier plastic screens.
• We will ask you some arrival questions to confirm the information provided in the pre-visit questionnaire.
• Our team will be wearing appropriate PPE all the time to ensure your safety. This includes masks, gloves and face shields. Our PPE might make us appear more clinical but please be assured that we are still the same friendly team underneath. This is to ensure your safety.
• Patients bathrooms are still operational but please ask the receptionist before use.
• We will do our best to complete the treatment to avid second visits and to reduce your travel.

After your appointment

• The card machine terminal will be covered by plastic shields to prevent the risk of contamination. The plastic cover will be changed after every payment. Please also try to use the contactless payment whenever possible. Additionally, we will be accepting apple pay and android pay.
• To minimise your waiting time in the reception area, our reception team will give you a call within 1 hour after leaving the dental practice to arrange the next appointments for you.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call us on 0191 284 7871 or email us on info@gosforthdentalsurgery.co.uk.

Current Dental FAQs

We are pleased so say that Gosforth Dental Surgery is open again. We appreciate you may be nervous about visiting us and know you’ll have questions, so we’ve put together some FAQs to help both our existing and new patients.

If you have any further questions about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice, please call us an our team will be happy to answer your questions.