COVID-19 Update

Covid Update – Message from the MTHC CEO

Dental restrictions to lift on Friday 22 October

The Victorian Government has announced an end to the current lockdown from 11.59pm this Thursday 21 October 2021, and this includes the removal of restrictions on the provision of dental care. The Chief Health Officer has advised that dental practices can now resume the full range of dental services for patients from Friday 22 October 2021.

The Melbourne Dental Clinic will remain committed to our COVIDSafe plan and maintain a density limit of one person per four square metres.

We continue to see exposure events involving dental practices. For this reason, it is important that we screen patients prior to attendance at our dental clinic.

We also wish to advise you that as per the ADA Guidelines “all confirmed coronavirus cases will only have treatment as an inpatient or within a hospital setting by appropriately trained and credentialled dental personnel.” In addition, our clinic does not have the necessary technical facilities to be able to provide this treatment.

For any questions or enquiries:

Please contact our clinic on 03 9035 8402

Bookings can also be made on line:  https://dental.unimelb.edu.au/dental-clinic

Dr Tony McLaughlan

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October 2020

What is Happening?

The government announced recently that dentists in metropolitan Melbourne will now move to ADA Level 1 dental restrictions.

What Does this Mean for You?

This means we are back to ‘business as usual’ but with the exception that we will not treat anyone who is COVID-19 positive or is exhibiting any clinical symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with anyone with COVID-19.

‘Level 1’ means?

We will now be able to perform all dental procedures.

Keeping Safe

When you contact our Clinic, our staff will ask you a number of screening questions:

  • Have you returned from overseas in the past 14 days?
  • Have you been in close or casual contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
  • Do you have any flu like illness – sore throat, temperature, cough, shortness of breath?

If you answered YES to the above questions you should ring the COVID-19 24-hour hotline on 1800 675 398 or a GP or emergency department to arrange for testing and appropriate care.

If you answered Yes to the above questions, you will NOT be treated at the Melbourne Dental Clinic.

If you answered NO to the above questions, please contact our Clinic for an appointment

Safety First!!

Our staff are our priority as well as our patients. We ensure they are informed and provided with adequate protective advice. They are provided with personal protective equipment and do not attend the workplace if feeling unwell. They are required to self-isolate if they have declared they have travelled overseas greater than 14 days.

On entry to our clinic:

  • You will be greeted on the ground floor at 723 Swanston Street Carlton by an MDC staff member who will triage you through the process of hand sanitizer, written screening questions, temperature check and regulating patient and staff movements through lifts and stairs to ensure appropriate social distancing
  • Staggered appointment start times have been introduced to increase social distancing amongst staff, students and patients
  • Our staff will wear long sleeved gowns, safety glasses, gloves and surgical masks for all procedures
  • You will be asked to undertake a 20-30 second pre-operative mouth rinse, where necessary
  • When entering the surgery you will be asked to wash your hands prior to sitting in the dental chair

If you need further information about ‘Level 1’ dental procedures, or wish to book an appointment please call 03 9035 8402. Bookings can also be made online at https://dental.unimelb.edu.au/dental-clinic

Thank you for your continued support in these challenging times.

Stay safe and take good care.

Your Team at the Melbourne Dental Clinic

Melbourne Dental Clinic