Central Coast dentists start emergency service during coronavirus pandemic
With most dental practices closing across the coast, the thought of going to hospital with a tooth emergency is enough for people to sit at home in pain. But there’s another option.
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An emergency dental service has formed across the Central Coast to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five local practices have teamed up to form the Central Coast Dental Emergency Service including Avoca Beach Dental, Saratoga Dental, Empire Bay Dental, Bonnells Bay Dental and Warnervale Dental.
It comes after the Australian Dental Board and Australian Dental Association (ADA) directed all dentists to postpone routine dental treatment during the pandemic. This has forced the closure of many dentists across the country.
The emergency service gives people access to dentists in an emergency. They simply text a hotline with their details and suburb and the dentists can either give appropriate advice or schedule an emergency appointment.
“We are a group of five practices with thousands of patients on the books,” Warnervale Dental’s Dr David Bassal told the Express.
“For us to close up and walk away would be a disaster for patients, especially when you see how much pain they can be in. With so many practices closing on the coast, nobody wants to be presenting to a hospital with a dental emergency.”
Dr Bassal said the practices were taking extra hygiene and safety precautions for all emergency procedures.
“We are always on top of this type of thing in our everyday practices,” he said.
“The mouth is one part of the body you can never get sterile. We know to take all precautions such as using face masks and shields.”
Dr Bassal said they also had a hydrogen peroxide three per cent mix that people gargled before a procedure.
“This reduces salivary contamination for a longer period,” he said. “We are doing that now for all patients before we do anything.
“Our wiping down practices are also more stringent and our waiting rooms are empty.”
Dr Ned Restom, founder and principal dentist of the group, said the service was here to support the community.
“Whether you’re an existing patient or new, if you need emergency care, we will do our best to help you,” he said.
If you have a dental emergency text your name, postcode and dental issue to 0480 261 192.