Dental clinics will have a process in place to gather information prior to making an appointment and this could include a phone conversation to find out your risk of being exposed to COVID-19, for example have you travelled recently, been in contact with a confirmed case, or are unwell. Some practitioners may also wish to take additional measures such as checking your temperature on arrival.
Isolation rules apply for patients and treatment will need to be deferred if you:
- Have travelled overseas during the last 14 days (this was put in place on Sunday 15-Mar-2020 at 11:59pm).
- Have signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness such as cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or fever.
- Have been a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 during the last 14 days.
Note: The same principles apply for dentists and dental clinic staff. Anyone considered at risk should will not be allowed to attend the practice (overseas travel last 14 days, close contact with confirmed COVID-19 case, unwell with respiratory symptoms).
At the appointment
Please ensure you have washed your hands and used hand sanitizer before attending your appointment. Please respect social distancing rules and respect the measures the dentist has put in place such as restricting the number of people in the waiting room. They are for the health and safety of everyone.
Australian dentists have some of the best infection control measures in the world, and on top of this they are taking additional precautions.