Bupa’s dental practices are open again
Bupa’s dental practices are open again, in line with government COVID-19 recommendations, and are encouraging patients to see their dentist for a check-up or to recommence a treatment that may have been postponed.
In March and April, dental practices across Australia were closed, in line with the government guidelines. Dentists were only performing emergency dental procedures. These restrictions have now eased, and dentistry is back to normal – with specific COVID-19 infection control measures in place.
“It’s important that patients return to see their dentist and have their teeth and gums examined, as regular dental check-ups, scale and cleans, and procedures such as fillings are essential to avoiding more serious dental work in the future,” Dr Kavita Lobo, Clinical Director of Bupa Dental, said.
“When left untreated, tooth decay and gum disease can damage the tissues in the mouth, which can lead to irreversible damage."
“Many of the conditions that affect the oral cavity are largely preventable. We know many Australians had to postpone their usual dental check-up because of the COVID-19 restrictions. With dental practices open again, we strongly encourage people to book in to see their dentist and maintain good oral health care,” Dr Lobo said.
Bupa’s priority remains the safety and well-being of our patients, our people and the wider community. In line with this commitment, all of Bupa’s dental practices have implemented a number of standard and COVID-19 specific measures to help minimise any risk of exposure within one of our dental practices. These include:
- Strengthened cleaning procedures, including actively promoting the regular use of antibacterial hand sanitiser and surface wipes;
- Stringent personal hygiene measures for our people;
- Touch free temperature checks for our patients;
- Scheduling and managing patients to limit the time they will spend in a common area and unnecessary contact with others;
- The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all treatments, such as masks, protective eyewear, gloves and appropriate protective outerwear;
- Our team members are to stay home if they have been in contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or are feeling unwell; and
- Requesting patients reschedule their appointment if they have been in contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, have travelled internationally in the last 14 days, or are or have recently been unwell, including experiencing any flu-like symptoms.
“Bupa is doing everything possible to ensure that our dental practices are safe, adhering to stringent infection control measures, and our dentists are here to help their patients look after their teeth,” Dr Lobo said.
Media reference number: 20/068
