COVID Policy

All health professions are faced with the challenge of facilitating access to care with an enhanced understanding of COVID-19 transmission and effective, sustainable strategies to reduce risk.  

Do you think you are a suspected or confirmed case of COVID 19 – take our questionnaire here.

Dental on Metro’s first priority is the safety of our Staff and Clients.  We continue to keep ourselves informed of the changing COVID environment and constantly adapt our policies to maintain current best practice in relation to COVID health and safety protocols.

Our policies are adapted from the most contemporary Risk Management Principles outlined in the Australian Dental Associations Risk Management Principles for Dentistry.  

These principles outline protocols with respect to Screening, Facilities, Protocols and Procedures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (the ‘Control Hierarchy’).  These are adapted from risk management principles outlined by the Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC).  

Our Policy

Suspected or Confirmed cases of COVID-19

For non-urgent treatment or check-ups it is currently advised that this is deferred until you have completed the full quarantine period as advised by SA Health and are cleared by SA Health.

Urgent Dental Treatment for clients who are suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.

As Dental on Metro does not have the facilities to treat clients who are suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 who require urgent dental treatment.  We advise these clients to seek treatment through the South Australian Dental Service (SADS).  Ph 8222 8222.

Screening

Screening where required, includes a questionnaire and may include temperature taking or a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to determine Suspected or Confirmed cases of COVID.

Facilities

Dental on Metro have made the following changes to our facility.

1. Signage advising of coughing and sneezing etiquette. 
2. Hand washing and sanitising upon entering the waiting room and further hand sanitising after leaving the operatory.
3. All unnecessary high touch items in communal areas such as magazines and toys have been removed
4. Arrangement of the waiting room to facilitate physical distancing.
5. Regular cleaning of communal surfaces such as the front desk, pens etc. 

Protocols

Dental on Metro developed additional protocols to reduce risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 including

1. Following SA Health directions in relation to density of clients
2. Maintaining a Risk Management Plan in response to COVID 19
3. Maintaining a current SA Health COVID-19 Safe Plan
4. Screening protocols for staff, clients and visitors.
5. All clients and visitors to wear masks other than when being treated.
6. Compliance with standard and transmission-based precautions as outlined in the ADA Guidelines for Infection, Prevention and Control of Cross Infection.
7. Adopting of PPE protocols appropriate to the care being provided
8. Providing clients with the opportunity to practice hand hygiene before and after treatment
9. Frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces with detergent/disinfectant products
10. Staff Training with respect to infection prevention and control. 
11. Compliance with Mandatory Vaccination of our Staff.
12. Discretionary use of Rapid Antigen Testing for our Staff and Clients.
13. A policy in place should an exposure event take place. 

Dental Procedures

Dental on Metro has also adopted the following changes to assist with reduction in transmission of COVID-19

1. The use of high-volume evacuation during dental procedures
2. The use of pre-procedural antibacterial mouth-rinse
3. The use of Standard Precautions and Transmission based precautions for cross infection control.

We anticipate regular updates as new situations emerge both locally and more generally with respect to COVID-19.  We will keep our clients informed by updates to this page, which will also be notified on our Facebook page and through our client E-Newsletters. 

For any further information on Dental on Metro’s response to the changing COVID situation, please contact our desk on 8260 1007.